A/N: Another story complete thank you for all the support.


Chapter Twelve- A Home At Last

Ethel was in the living room area happily tucking into a bacon sandwich that Cadence had made forgetting her sister's waning about the cooking. Ethel was chewing happily when she felt something weird and put her hands in her mouth pulling out what looked like a piece of long cloth.

"Eww what is this?" Ethel asked staring at it, Cadence looked over and smiled awkwardly.

"Oh well when I was cooking this morning I cut my hand...I think that is the bandage I put on" Cadence said with a small smile.

Ethel looked at the bandage and realised there was a red stain on it and dropped the bandage realising it had blood on it. Suddenly Ethel felt sick and ran to the bathroom throwing up. Cadence went and stood outside the door worried about the girl.


Esmeralda returned home for the first time in weeks feeling happy and worry free because she knew she now had the funds to look after Ethel properly, that all ended when Esmeralda walked through the door of her flat after unlocking it and saw Cadence looking worried outside the bathroom.

"Hi Cadence, where is Ethie?" Esmeralda asked looking around the room for her until she heard someone throwing up.

"ETHIE!?" Esmeralda shouted "What happened?" Esmie asked Cadence wondering why her sister was being so sick.

Cadence did not fancy getting cursed by Esmeralda for poisoning her precious little sister so she said "Morning sickness" without thinking. Cadence saw Esmie's eyes blaze with anger at basically being told her little sister was pregnant before she stormed into the room.

"Ethie!" Esmeralda shouted as she saw her sister throwing up.

"Esmie..." Ethel said trying to refrain from throwing up again.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Esmie asked angrily. Ethel nodded.

"I forgot about you finding the plaster in your food and ate some breakfast Cadence made and found a bloody bandage in it" Ethel replied. Esmie knew she was not lying who could make that up on the spot.

"CADENCE YOU POSIONED MY SISTER" Esmie shouted. Cadence made a noise and ran off to hide before Esmeralda had a chance to hurt her. Esmie rolled her eyes telling her she would get her later before she sat on the floor next to her sister rubbing her back.

"Where did you go?" Ethel asked looking quite pale after she had thrown up so much.

"I went to mum and dads, guess what they signed over the rights to you so legally I am your guardian now" Esmeralda told her hoping she did not get super angry because she had gone to see their parents. "I also got money, we can move out Ethie" Esmeralda told her as she beamed.

"But why would mum and dad help us?" Ethel asked thinking there must be some catch somewhere.

"Because I agreed we would both stay away if they did, Ethie you don't have to see them again" Esmeralda told her sister happily, now that their parents were out of their lives Ethel could start to move forward without them letting her down all the time. Ethel despite her stomach still feeling funny smiled and hugged her sister happy to finally be free from the people who had made her feel so bad.

Esmie smiled and hugged her back until her sister pulled away. She saw she had a little bit of sick around her mouth, it would gross most people out but it wasn't her fault so Esmie got a towel, wiped her face and then hugged her so more before kissing her on the top of her head realising how excited she was to look after her properly.


It did not take long for the sisters to find the perfect house. It was quite far away from the city and was peaceful, but after Ethel's life she needed some peace, they moved in soon after and when the paperwork came through saying Esmie now had the rights to her sister everything was even better.

"I love it here" Ethel said looking out the window at the countryside as she beamed. Esmie could already see the girl was happier and hopefully she had intervened in time and she would not turn out like Agatha.

Everything had worked out, Esmeralda had explained to her college the situation and she was able to take Ethel to college with her, leave her with Cadence for a few hours and then finish her lessons early so she could take Ethel home. She had not seen her parents since the day she had gone to visit but Sybil was a frequent visitor, along with Cadence so everything was great.


The weeks seemed to fly by and Ethel returned to Cackle's soon after. On that morning Esmeralda went with her to explain the situation to Miss Cackle and left the girl speaking to Drusilla. Already the students of Cackle's were suspicious.

"I don't think Ethel is living at home anymore" Enid Nightshade speculated as she spoke to her best friends Mildred Hubble and Maud Spellbody.

"What makes you think that?" Maud asked her friend curiously.

"Simple. Look at her clothes, no way are they top brand clothes, she is dressed more like a normal person would dress" Enid replied thinking it was obvious.

"I actually agree, you know the Hallows normally dress in posh clothes" Mildred replied. It was true the family always had the best of the best when it came to fashion, even Ethel even though the girl was not liked by her parents it was clear when someone looked at her she was from a rich family but today she was dressed as if she had gone to a shop where normal people can afford to shop.

"I am going to ask her" Mildred replied as she started walking up to Ethel.

"Mildred, are you trying to get punched by Ethel on our first day back?" Enid asked her friend amazed.

"It is only a question" Mildred replied as she walked up to Ethel hoping the girl did not flip to much.

"Hiya Ethel, how was your summer?" Mildred started politely.

"It was great...how was yours?" Ethel asked confused as to why Mildred was talking to her.

"It was very good, erm Ethel are you still living at home?" Mildred asked her.

"What makes you think I am not?" Ethel asked defensively.

"The fact your clothes are cheap looking" Enid replied as Maud thumped her in the ribs. Ethel glared at her but for once did not feel like being mean, she no longer had to. She had the love and the family she wanted.

"Very observant, no I am not living at home I am living with Esmeralda she is my guardian now" Ethel said proudly.

"Oh that is good" Maud replied honestly happy for the girl knowing she was unhappy at home.

"Yes, Esmeralda is not rich so I can't wear expensive clothes now but I don't really mind because these new ones are purple" Ethel said happily. Truthfully, it had annoyed her at first but then when Esmeralda said she could have everything in purple if she wished she didn't care about the price anymore.

Mildred smiled. Ethel was acting so different happy and kind, she wasn't bullying people and was acting a lot more like Esmeralda than Ethel.

"I am happy you found happiness Ethel" Mildred told her hoping this meant the end of the girl bullying them.


Esmeralda knocked on the door of Ada's office and walked in after Ada had said a cheery come in.

"Good morning Miss Cackle, I am so sorry to come in like this on the first day of term I know you are busy" Esmeralda started.

"Hello Esmeralda, how was your first year of college?" Ada asked cheerfully happy to see her ex-headgirl.

"It was...eventful" Esmie replied knowing that was the best word to describe it. "But I won't keep you I just came to tell you that I am now legally Ethel's guardian" Ethel told Ada knowing the woman had to know who the girl was living with.

"Really!?" Ada asked happily. She knew Ethel was miserable with her parents and if she was being honest she was worried because her parents ill treatment of her was really starting to make Ethel go further downhill.

"Yes" Esmie said beaming "I thought it would be best for you to know, I have written down our new address and both my mobile and house phone numbers for you" Esmeralda replied as she gave the older woman a piece of paper. "I would appreciate it if you would contact me anytime you need someone to come in or talk to them about Ethel and not my parents, and I will also like you to contact me about events such as parents evening" Esmeralda told Ada getting to the point as to why she had gone there.

"Of course, I will update the records for Ethel, just Ethel yes, not Sybil?" Ada asked wanting to make sure.

"Yes just Ethie, Sybil is still living at home so my parents need to be contacted regarding anything to do with Sybil" Esmeralda replied explaining.

"That is fine, I will make sure the other teachers are made aware" Ada told her headgirl happily.

"Thank you Miss Cackle, I expect we will be seeing each other again soon so goodbye for now" Esmie said as she left.

Ada was curious as to how Ethel had ended up living with Esmie, she wasn't surprised because she thought it would happen but not until the eldest was out of college but even though she did not know all the details Ada was happy, she knew Esmeralda would send her sister on the right track and that Ethel would finally get the love and affection she needed so badly and Ada was not worried, Esmeralda might only be eighteen but the girl had always being mature beyond her years and she had no doubts about her abilities to be a mother figure to Ethel, she really always had after all. Ada smiled to herself happily knowing her pupil was turning a corner.


Esmeralda left the office and saw Ethel talking to Mildred and her friends of all people. Esmeralda had noticed it, Ethel was not as bitter anymore or jealous, she was overall nicer and she hoped her sister could finally get over the feud will Mildred Hubble. Esmeralda walked up to her sister touching her shoulder.

"Hello everyone did you have a good summer?" Esmeralda asked the crowd of her old schoolmates.

"Yes it was fairly good, long time no see, how was your first year of college?" Mildred asked the same question her headteacher had just asked.

"It was great, eventful, but great thank you for asking" Esmeralda replied not getting into why Ethel lived with her or anything. It was up to Ethel how much she wanted to tell her friends. Esmeralda spoke to the pupils for a while longer until Sybil came and hugged her and she greeted her happily only then realising she had been talking for ages and had to leave.

"Right I need to go, see you all soon" Esmeralda said to the crowd who slowly left sensing the girls should be alone to say their goodbyes. Esmeralda hugged Sybil and kissed her head.

"Can I come round for dinner when it is half-term?" Sybil asked her sister.

"Of course, arrange it with mum and dad and let me know when" Esmeralda told her as Sybil skipped away happily waving.

"Right Ethie, I will see you in a few weeks" Esmeralda told her. Ethel got upset then and hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go of her new family quite yet.

"Don't cry" Esmie said kissing her head before lifting her chin and wiping her tears "You know where I am if you need me, day or night if you need me mirror me okay?" Esmeralda told her trying to not cry herself. She hated leaving her. Ethel nodded as they hugged tighter.

"Right I really need to go, I love you" Esmeralda told her. She knew how important them words were after all Ethel had gone years without ever hearing them at home.

"I love you too" Ethel replied finally pulling away and watching as her sister left.

"Try and stay out of trouble" Esmeralda told her sister.

"No promises" Ethel replied and Esmie smirked at her response. Ethel was Ethel she couldn't expect miracles. Esmie waved as she left the school knowing her sister would be fine.

Ethel walked down the corridor of her school happily, she would miss her sister but she was so happy that she had the thing she had dreamt about since she was old enough to dream, a loving home, a real home and she still could not believe it was hers. Ethel Hallow had a home at last.