A/N: Griffin has to break an important decision to her friend that is just made harder by the personal feelings opposing her choice. This gets a little crack-ish at the end.

Griffin had dreaded the moment when she'd have to tell Zara about her decision. She'd already discussed it with Ediltrude and they'd both agreed to do it together, but even that wasn't enough to calm her heart. She'd never separated the twin witches as she loved them both and they were dear friends to her. She didn't know how to live without either one of them so it pained her to choose one over the other no matter that it was just a formality.

"Why not make me co-deputy?" Zara asked as she'd expected. Really, there'd been no way around that question and Griffin hoped she could give an answer that wouldn't upset the other witch.

"I only need one deputy," she explained, knowing full well that that wasn't enough. But she could hardly give more without undermining her efforts to let Zara down slowly. "Besides, in case Ediltrude needs to take over, you'll be helping her, of course," she said, looking to Ediltrude for support. She could use that and as well as she knew Zara, Ediltrude knew her better and could probably pick up mood shifts she couldn't, making her Griffin's saving grace.

"That's right," Ediltrude said as she put a hand on her sister's shoulder.

Zara didn't shrug it off so that was probably a good sign. Griffin definitely hoped so but she knew Zara's anger and how insidious it could be. She could be seething on the inside and you'd never know. So she wasn't quick to grab the party streamers just yet.

"But why not make it official?" Zara asked, calm and collected which unnerved Griffin more than if she'd been angry. Then at least she would've known what her friend was feeling. Currently, it was a mystery and she was getting tired of walking on eggshells.

"Because I don't feel comfortable leaving you in charge," she said, deciding to skip the technicalities about administrative structure and so on and just tell the truth which Zara usually appreciated even if it took her some time to come around. It would spare them all time and nerves and as much as she wanted to be sensitive, she had her reasons for that decision.

"Why not?" Zara pushed as she smacked away Ediltrude's arm when she tried to wrap her in a hug but she didn't look away from Griffin even for a moment, holding her gaze.

"You act before you think sometimes," Griffin said without breaking eye contact to show she was serious, but also hoping that Zara would understand there was nothing personal in her decision. It was the personal feelings that were making it so hard.

Zara frowned. "So do you," she said, her voice a little louder but there was no venom in it. She was more confused than angry, really. "So does anyone," she added to further her point, and as if somewhat apologetically for her initial words.

"I know how to walk the line," Griffin said, hoping it was true. She wasn't offended by Zara's comment but rather alarmed by it. They all remembered what her bad judgment had led to–everyone did, for it had impacted the whole world–and she was still in awe of their ability to trust her and let her make choices that concerned all of them. As much as she didn't agree with the Council's philosophy and course of action, she couldn't really be surprised they were mindful of her. So it meant a lot to her to have the twins' support and she didn't want to repay them with hurt.

"Zara, we love you the way you are," Ediltrude stepped in again, drawing her sister's attention to her, "but you can be irresponsible."

"This coming from you?" Zara raised an eyebrow at her sister as soon as she'd finished the sentence and as strong as the impulse to laugh that took over Griffin when she saw Ediltrude's expression was, she had to hope they wouldn't get into a fight. The atmosphere was already tense enough, at least to her.

Ediltrude looked over at her as if seeking moral support and the pleading look Griffin gave her seemed to do its magic as she exhaled slowly before turning back to her sister. "When was the last time someone filed a complaint against me?" she asked calmly and Griffin held her breath as they waited for Zara's reaction. She was afraid Ediltrude had chosen the wrong approach but all she could do at the moment was trust her judgment and it was a small favor in return for everything her friend had done for her.

Zara gave a pout. "This is oppression against me and my feistiness," she muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms. It was a tamer and more comedic version of the tantrums she threw when she was genuinely mad but Griffin wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings between them.

"I don't think as fellow witches we have a say on the matter of feistiness," she said, earning a glance from Zara which told her everything she needed to know, "and pettiness," she added, allowing a small smirk to show on her face now that she knew they were good.

"Hey!" Zara protested, her arms dropping at her sides as if she'd been gravely wounded but her reaction only proved Griffin's words and it seemed to dawn on her when Ediltrude laughed at her side.

"Come on, Zar," Ediltrude said as she wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders. "Do you really want to be given more paperwork to fill out?" Ediltrude waved towards Griffin's desk and the sheets all over it that were the perfect prop for her little demonstration.

Zara almost went green at the face at the mention, making both her sis and Griffin chuckle at her expression.

"You know what, you're right," she said, trying to make herself look lost in contemplation as if there was a deeper motive to her changing her mind rather than simple unwillingness to deal with more documentation than she already had to. "I'm not cut out for that."

Griffin turned to Ediltrude who returned her devious look. "Maybe we should give her a chance after all?" she asked, faking innocent intentions as the root of her words.

"Perhaps we were wrong," Ediltrude nodded in feigned consideration, imitating Zara just to rub it in. "We should go for tryouts," she suggested.

"Wonderful idea," Griffin said before turning to Zara and flashing her a wicked smile.

"What- Oh, no!" Zara exclaimed when she saw the sheets of paper on Griffin's desk rising in the air, moved by her magic. "No, don't do this to me!" Zara grabbed at Ediltrude's arm and removed it from her shoulders, freeing herself and using the opportunity to dash for the door.

The paperwork followed through the room and caught up with her, sticking to her form and pressing her to the door that didn't yield to her, locked by Griffin's magic. It got a dramatic scream from her that had Ediltrude and Griffin laughing evilly.