After Tabitha's speech she got the final information of her mission and some further basic info about the magical world from some Council members "behind stage", but as she was fully informed she was ready to go out to meet her family.

It wasn't until she left the Council that it suddenly hit her of what had happened and what she had experienced this day. So it was with shaky legs and a rapid heart beat she walked over to the crowd. Not really seeing clearly, she didn't even notice when her grandparents suddenly were standing before her.

"Tabitha, my precious," Maurice chanted proudly obviously very much moved. "I am very proud of you and you'll make a fine council member."

"Thank you, grandpapa. I'll do my best." Tabitha hugged her grandfather, now being brought back to reality, before she turned to Endora. And as she for the first time could see a tear rolling down her grandmother's cheek, she suddenly understood how important this was, not only for her, but also for her family, maybe especially for her grandmother. Being too moved to speak, Endora just hugged her tight, letting Tabitha know this was one of the happiest moments she'd ever had gone through.

But just as the sentimental atmosphere was getting a bit too sentimental Serena appeared and broke the tension. She smiled broadly at seeing Tabitha and said in a staged voice, "Tabitha, darling…" She made a theatrical gesture with her arm, "Welcome to the world of possibilities!" She smiled even broader and gave her a hug before Tabitha kept moving through the crowd looking for her mother.

As Tabitha got a couple of congratulations and proves of approval from both relatives she knew and from relatives and other people she'd never ever seen before, she moved through the crowd looking for her mother.

And then Samantha stood before her, smiling proudly. Tabitha had actually been a bit nervous meeting her mother, since she figured she wouldn't be too pleased that Tabitha so eagerly had accepted her magical mission and that she now would have to practice magic. But when seeing that her mother smiled at her, Tabitha couldn't stop herself from smiling widely as well. Not only was she relived that her mother didn't seemed disappointed, but that she actually seemed happy for her.

"Oh Tabitha…," Samantha cried out of happiness and hugged her tight. "I'm so proud of you."

"You are?" Tabitha asked a bit tentatively as they parted.

Even if Samantha couldn't deny that she wasn't surprised that Tabitha could doubt it,

it did saddened her that she had made it go so far that her daughter would think so little of her.

"Of course I am proud of you. I've never been prouder," She looked back at her daughter, really hoping she didn't doubt anymore. "But I'm sorry I've led you to believe I wouldn't," she then added regretfully.

Even if what her mother was saying sounded really good, and that Tabitha had been longing to hear it for a long time, Tabitha had hard to believe it.

"But it's so magical…" she started confused. Even if she had noticed her mother being different this whole day from what Tabitha was used to and not at all that reluctant to magic and witchcraft, Tabitha mostly just felt confused of it. "And you've never wanted me to use my witchcraft…"

Samantha sighed, perfectly understanding how confused Tabitha must be. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about earlier." She paused for awhile not knowing how to go on, as she led Tabitha away from some of the crowd. "Remember I said earlier that I think both I and your father understand why you've been so troubled lately?"

"Uhuh...," Tabitha just mumbled, wondering where this would lead.

"Well, the thing is that I've talked to your aunty Serena and she's told me everything."

"Oh…," was the only thing Tabitha this time managed to say, when hearing that the escapades with Serena, the escapades she so hard had tried to cover up, now was out in the open. But even if she felt the knots in her stomach tighten when realizing her mother knew that she had gone behind her parents back, she somehow felt there was no need to be nervous anymore. Because her mother looked nowhere near angry or disappointed, quite the opposite. Maybe it actually meant that her mother understood and maybe this discussion was of even greater importance than Tabitha first thought.

"This may sound foolish to you," Samantha went on. "But neither your father nor I had any idea you felt like this. It came as a complete chock to both of us." She shook her head shamefully, again thinking how stupid she'd been to have been able to misinterpret the whole thing, "I myself can't even understand how we didn't see it…"

Tabitha just looked wide-eyed at her mother, starting to realize how things hanged together. This discussion was indeed of greater importance than she'd imagined. Even if she still felt a bit confused over her mother's declaration, she did get the distinct feeling that her mother at least wanted to understand. And at this moment, that meant the world to Tabitha.

Because it did feel as she saw things in a different way now and she did realize that her parents support actually was important to her. Not only had Tabitha's gotten a whole new perspective on things after everything she'd been through this day, but also, and maybe most importantly, it felt as if she during these last couple of days really started figuring out things about herself and her troubled mind. And with that it felt as if she for the first time really could be able to try and sort it out, and to have her parents behind her would probably make it a whole lot easier.

Samantha studied her daughter for awhile, wondering what she was thinking. But as the sound of the crowd got unavoidable she instead looked a bit annoyed at the crowded premise. She had hoped that people would start to dissolve by now, but seeing it was just as crowded as before, Samantha figured it instead would be best for Tabitha and her to go somewhere else and have a more private conversation. "We have a couple of hours until the ceremony dinner…," she then started and looked at Tabitha, "so what do you say if we pop off somewhere less crowded and we'll try to sort things out and you can tell me about you Evoluventus-journey later?"

Feeling as if she wanted nothing more than to sort out all of this confusion and hopefully maybe also be able to get her mother's support, she nodded sincerely. "I'd like that very much," she said before they popped off to a nice little isolated cloud.

They made themselves comfortable in a cosy little sofa-cloud, both pleased that they would have a long lost needed talk.

Not really knowing where to start, Samantha took a deep breath, before she decided she might as well start from the beginning, "When you were little, and first started developing witchcraft, it was so hard hiding it from the mortal world. You twitched your little nose and made things fly around the house; made character from fairytales come alive; making your dad or me popping to you whenever you wished for us and all kind of things. Sometimes you really could drive us crazy...," Samantha paused for awhile remembering the time that now felt so long ago. "We tried to explain that you had to control yourself, but you were just too little to understand. To you it was just something that came naturally and you couldn't understand there were times you just couldn't use your powers. So to make you stop using witchcraft around mortals we had to force you not to use your witchcraft all together. But even if it broke my heart every time I had to tell you not to use your powers, I knew I had to. And by time you just stopped using your powers. Not thinking of it too much we just figured you kind of outgrown it or something…" Samantha sighed, not believing how stupid she had been, "and it wasn't until the other day, after I listened to what you said and later what Serena told me, that I realized you hadn't outgrown it at all. You had only shut it out. And that's why you've been so depressed…" She looked straight at her daughter, "isn't that right?"

Tabitha squirmed. Even though she knew her mother was right, Tabitha somehow felt uncomfortable being in the focus, "Well yeah… I guess so…"

Samantha looked at her daughter in despair feeling helpless, knowing that she might have been able to help Tabitha if she only knew. "Why didn't you tell me Tabitha?"

Tabitha squirmed again, "I don't know…I guess I didn't quite know myself what the problem was…"

Samantha looked puzzled at her daughter, urging her to go on.

"I have been feeling depressed and sad, but I didn't know why… Everything just felt so hopeless and meaningless and somehow it felt as if I didn't belong; not in school, not with my friends, not at home, not anywhere. But then, when I started hanging out with Serena in Cosmos I suddenly started feeling happy again..." She paused not really being too sure whether to go on. But when seeing her mother looking back at her with interest, she hesitantly continued, "and I started realizing what was missing… and that it felt as if I didn't belong because I was different… "

"Oh Tabitha…" Samantha cried heartbroken, not being able to stop blaming herself for all the trouble she had caused her own daughter, as she hugged her tight. "I'm sorry we've put you through all this. We never meant to hurt you…" she said silently while stroking her hair tenderly.

"I know…" Tabitha whispered, returning the embrace. "And I'm sorry too…for letting it all out on you guys…"

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Samantha reassuringly said. She let go of the embrace and looked at her daughter wanting to be sure Tabitha realized that she really did not have anything to regret. When seeing she indeed understood Samantha instead smiled and wiped away a tear from her cheek, "And I want you to know that from now on things will change. Just because I decided to give up my powers and live in a mortal world, I, or your father, have no right asking you and Adam to do the same. You're a witch and we'll have to accept that you want to live like one. We won't deprive you from your magical heritage anymore or try to make you into someone you're not."

Tabitha smiled and then asked a bit hesitantly, "does that mean I'm allowed to use my witchcraft?"

Samantha smiled. "Yes," she said and nodded.

Even if it might had been obvious, Tabitha didn't really realized what her mother was telling her until now, and even now she couldn't really believe it. She hugged her mother tight again, suddenly feeling happier than in a very long time. "Thanks mother."

Samantha smiled happily, seeing the excitement in her daughter's eyes, but then she turned more serious. Even though she knew she had done the right decision and that it was a relief to see Tabitha not only forgiving Samantha, but also being blissfully happy, she still felt a bit concerned that Tabitha didn't really understand the seriousness of being a witch in a mortal world. "But Tabitha, you must understand that you will have to restrain your powers. I can understand that you may want to live in cosmos in the future but until you turn eighteen you will have to stay with your father and me in the mortal world. And even if we'll agree that you may use your witchcraft every now and then, there are limits on when you can use your witchcraft and when you can't. You will have to be very careful."

"I know that..." Tabitha said, feeling a bit surprised that her mother thought she didn't.

"And even if your father will accept that you want to use your witchcraft, you can't go on using your witchcraft with him around whenever you want," Samantha went on, sensing Tabitha didn't quite understood what she was meant.

Tabitha's previous carefree expression now turned into a puzzled one. "What do you mean?"

"Well you know how I've always told you that mortals aren't ready for us, and that they never will be?"

"Yeah…" Tabitha nodded, not really knowing what her mother was getting at. Her father was a mortal and he'd managed to live through a whole lot of witchcraft.

"You see, it is very hard to both understand and accept magic for mortals. Neither their physiques nor psyches are built to understand the different world we are from, nor would they stay insane if they tried. Your father has accepted a lot, but just as he can't take away the witchcraft from us, we can't take away the mortality from him." She paused and looked straight at Tabitha, "as any other mortal he can't take too much witchcraft. And that is why you have to be cautious and restricted with your powers."

Not really seeing it that way before, Tabitha suddenly started understanding things from her father's point of view and that she still had to be as much mortal as she could with her father. She could even almost understand why her mother didn't use her witchcraft. She looked at her mother acquiescingly and nodded.

Samantha smiled seeing that Tabitha seemed to understand and that she would take her responsibility. But wanting to clear something more out, she continued.

"And it's not only in the mortal world you will have to be careful. The magical world demands you to be careful as well, because the magical world can often be a dangerous place."

Tabitha looked again puzzled at her mother, once more not really understanding what she meant.

Samantha continued, "Even if we're 'good' witches, there is a lot of evil in the magical world and a lot of witches and warlocks that will misuse their powers. You will have to be careful not to get in their way. And also there are limits and restrictions on what you can do yourself with your own powers because if you use your powers wrongly you can get in great danger. As you by now know, you were just a moment ago even too young to even perform certain witchcraft, like time-travelling, and that was to save you from getting hurt."

Tabitha nodded, just now realizing why Serena had been so secretive about time-travelling the other day.

"But now, after the Evoluventus you are able to do anything, and that is why it's really important you'll understand the meaning of all this."

Seeing the overwhelming expression on her daughter's face, Samantha smiled reassuringly, "I know that together with everything that's happened today all this might be a bit too much to grasp, but I think things will feel a bit clearer after you'll get to think of it in peace and quiet."

Tabitha nodded, thinking her mother was probably right. And even though Tabitha did understand the seriousness with all this and that she had to be restricted with her powers, it couldn't lower the extreme happiness and relief she felt after not only her Evoluventus and mission, but mostly that her parents accepted her as a witch. Dreamily she thought of the many possibilities she would get and the many doors that would open.

Seeing her daughter drifting away in thoughts with a wide smile on her lips, Samantha looked at her curiously, wondering what she thought about all of this, "What are you thinking?"

Tabitha looked at her mother, feeling a bit hesitant to tell her, basically for two reasons. First it was the fact that Tabitha unfortunately over the years had grown uncomfortable telling her mother things, despite the fact they had just shared a rather deep conversation just now. And secondly Tabitha was concerned her mother did not want to hear Tabitha talk too much about magic and witchcraft despite that she had told her she allowed Tabitha to use her witchcraft. "Nothing…" Tabitha simply said looking down on her hands in her lap.

Noticing her daughter sounding and acting a bit too much like her old depressed self, Samantha felt a rising worry that the reason to Tabitha's depression lay deeper than what they had talked about. "Tabitha? Please tell me."

Tabitha looked up at her pleading mother, realizing she really had to start telling her mother things if she wanted things to change from her previous misery. "Well…" she started uncertainly. "I just thought how extraordinary it will be…I know you've left the magical world, but I can't wait to see what's out there. Especially after everything the Evoluventus taught me about magic and the magical world."

She looked carefully at her mother, feeling a bit anxious of what she might see in her mother's eyes. But when seeing her mother smiling back at her, she felt relieved and smiled as well.

"I'm happy you feel that way, I really do," Samantha said honestly. Even if she had worked for years to try and raise Tabitha as a mortal, Samantha couldn't deny she felt happy that Tabitha now would embrace the world Samantha was from. Because despite what people might think Samantha did love the magic world and was proud being a witch.

Although, she couldn't help that she felt a bit anxious that Tabitha might appreciate the magical life a bit too much. Maybe her obvious interest in magic would not only make her live more like a witch but maybe it would make her loose interest in the world that she didn't only had been brought up in, but the world she partly belonged to. Maybe it would make her turn her back to her mortal heritage.

"But Tabitha, you must remember that you're not only a witch," Samantha said, looking straight into her daughters eyes, really not wanting her to loose track of her other side. "You're half mortal and I really hope you won't forget that."

Even though she couldn't think that her mother actually though she'd forget about half of her heritage, the seriousness in her mother's voice made her realize that she did indeed worry about that. "Of course I won't forget that…" she just said, not really knowing what else to say.

Not really being convinced, Samantha continued, "I now it can be hard to not use your witchcraft whenever you want something, and I can't even deny it can be handy at times to use witchcraft even for those little things, when put in a messy situation or when you felt tired or dim, but you are half mortal…"

"Mom…" Tabitha then interrupted. "I won't neglect what's mortal. I don't even mind doing things the mortal way," she said convincingly, never even having considered giving up everything mortal. "I even like walking instead of popping and using my arms instead of twitching. With some things there is even no way I would trade the mortal way for the magical. Like with my music. I love practising my guitar playing, and to come up with songs the mortal way. It's fulfilling somehow. I wouldn't even dream of doing that with witchcraft. It would spoil all the fun."

Samantha smiled hearing that Tabitha did seem to appreciate mortal ways and that she didn't have to worry Tabitha would turn completely magical.

"No, it's the possibilities of the magical world I want," Tabitha continued visionary, "to travel through time and space. To find truths and gain knowledge…Just think how much actual truth I will be able to learn, things I never could learn in the mortal world..."

Samantha listened carefully, actually impressed of how mature her daughter seemed and how smart she was.

"But Tabitha…," she then started anyway, wanting to clarify one final thing. "You know even if the magical world can offer you endlessly of possibilities and it can provide you with an enormous amount of knowledge, doesn't mean the knowledge you learn in the mortal world is wasted. It's just different."

"I know," Tabitha said actually feeling lucky being half-blood. "And that's what so good. I get the best of both worlds." Tabitha looked at her mother, smiling widely, finally thinking she had convinced her mother that she had nothing to be worried about.

Samantha smiled, not really understanding how she could have such a smart daughter. What she did understand though was why the Element of Magic wanted Tabitha in Council, because Samantha now realized what they had been talking about earlier. "You're a very smart girl Tabitha…," she then said proudly. "It's no wonder they wanted you in the council."

Tabitha smiled shyly, but happily, hearing her mother's high praise.

They both drifted away in thoughts, both feeling as they indeed had managed to sort out a whole bunch of things and that things would indeed be better in the future.

After awhile though, Tabitha tentatively looked at her mother having another thing she wanted to talk about. "You know how I said it felt as if I don't belong in school with my friends?"

Samantha nodded.

"Well…" Tabitha started, wondering for a second how to go on. "Don't you feel that you're your too different when you're with mortals, as if you don't belong? Like with Louise, don't you feel as if you're dishonest to her, when you have these huge secrets?"

Knowing exactly what Tabitha meant, Samantha often enough being frustrated herself to not being able to tell her friends, thought for a second before she went on, "Well, yes, I guess I used to, but somehow I've managed to overcome it." She paused for awhile, not really knowing how to explain. "I know it can be hard to not be able to tell your friends that you're a witch, but it's just something you'll have to get around and try to accept. Because I know that it's no good going around blaming yourself for being dishonest. That way you're only destroying for both your friends and yourself." Samantha sighed hopelessly, not knowing what else to say. "I'm afraid that's the only advice I can give you…," she then said truthfully, but when seeing that Tabitha didn't seemed satisfied with the answer, she then tried a different approach. "And sure, you might be a bit different, but like in all friendships there are differences. Being a witch will be yours, but it doesn't mean you won't have anything in common with them either."

"Yeah, I guess so…," Tabitha said a bit gloomy, even if she knew her mother was probably right.

"And whenever there are something you want to talk about that you can't talk with your friends, you know both I and your father are always here, or Serena for that matter." Even if it did feel a bit strange that Tabitha seemed to prefer to confide in Serena, Samantha knew she should be happy that Serena had been, and most probably would be, there for Tabitha. "I understand that you may not want to talk to me about all things, and that is why I'm really glad that you've find a friend in Serena. Although, I want you to know that if you ever want to talk to me, about anything, I'm always here for you."

Tabitha smiled, hoping she really would talk to her mother more in the future, "I know." After all they were both witches living in a mortal world. So who could understand her better than her own mother?

Feeling convinced that she indeed could talk to her mother about anything she suddenly felt a strong urge of asking something she had wondered about for a long time.

"Mom?" Tabitha looked tentatively at her mother. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can, sweetheart."

Tabitha lingered for awhile, afraid that her mother would take this the wrong way, but as her curiousness took overhand she asked, "Why did you give up your powers in the first place? Don't you at all feel as if you get deprived from whom you are?"

Samantha smiled, "no. No, I don't feel as if I get deprived. But in contrast to you, I did choose not to use any witchcraft on my own free will." Samantha smiled for herself as she remembered a time many years ago when she first agreed to not use her powers anymore.

"When I first met your father, he was the most wonderful person - mortal or magical – I had ever met. But to be with a mortal was so different to me; I don't even believe I've ever had been friend with a mortal before. So at first I tried to convince myself that we were too different and that it wouldn't work. But then I realized I didn't mind it. I didn't mind it at all." She smiled for herself of the memory. "Oh we were so much in love…," she then added dreamily almost blushing over how blissfully happy she had been being newly in love. She let out a small giggle remembering the good, old times and then looked at her daughter, knowing this probably just sounded foolish to her, "you'll understand what I mean when you're older and once you've met someone special…"

Tabitha frowned embarrassed, not really being able to picture that at all, but then looked eagerly at her mother to continue.

"Well…," she started, sighing matter-of-factly and went on, "…and then I just knew I would do anything to be with him as much as I possibly could. So…I agreed on no witchcraft."

Tabitha kept on listened interested at her mother's story of her parents past, but still not understanding how one could give up such a big part of oneself, Tabitha was puzzled. "I don't think I could ever do something like that…"

Samantha smiled, knowing she thought that exact thing when she was younger, a time when she hadn't experienced the strange power of love. "I used to think so as well, but that was before I met your father. And now I've realized that it actually wasn't that big sacrifice to make. All my life I had been able to twitch up everything I wanted and pop wherever I wanted to go, and to always get what you want really makes you appreciate life less. I fully started appreciating life after I met your father, and even more so after I got you and Adam. And for the three of you I could do every sacrifice in the world."

Not knowing too much about life in her still young years, Tabitha was fascinated by her mother's acknowledgement, but still she had very hard to believe that she would ever think like that.

"So you never ever felt as if you've turned your back on your magical heritage?" Tabitha looked curiously at her mother, still not really understanding how she could have given everything up to live as a suburbia housewife.

Samantha just smiled. "I've been living for a witch for hundreds of years, and I will live as a witch for hundreds of years to come. Now I just want to live as a mortal… for as long as I have your father beside me…"

Tabitha did not only hear the sadness in her last words, but also did she notice her mother getting a sad expression in her face. And just as her mother Tabitha also felt the sadness creeping up on her, as it always did as soon as she thought that her father and maybe even her brother would not be there throughout her long life. But obviously not wanting to think about it Samantha quickly tried to get them on brighter moods and said jokingly, "But just because I try living as a mortal, you know how I never can seem to stop use my powers every now and then anyway..." She sighed and smiled, actually feeling a sudden strong connection between the two of them, "You know how hard it is to stop something that only comes naturally…"

Tabitha smiled, feeling as if her problems indeed would clear out, one way or another, and that her relation to her mother could become as it should be.

"Now what do you say if we pop back home before the ceremony dinner to see if Adam and your father is awake?" Samantha then suggested after awhile.

Tabitha smiled. She'd liked that very much.

And with a flash of a moment the two witches went back to the mortal world.

THE END

I hope you all liked it!

And whatever comments you may have, I'm more than happy to hear them!