Uma, Harry, and Gil all stayed at Evie's place. It was odd for everyone to live under the same roof for a night. Mal actually found it comforting. The decisions of the fate of the Isle were still being determined. At a meeting today, Mal had stated what she had thought. Even though some would disagree, Mal thought it was best. When the decision was made, there was no going back.
As Mal came home that evening, she was greeted by Evie. She and Carlos were both standing in the kitchen. Dizzy was sitting up at the counter eat a bowl of ice cream, Celia beside her. Scales was already purring at Mal's feet. "How did it go, M?" the blue-haired princess asked.
"They're not deciding anything until tomorrow," Mal smiled sadly as she picked up the black cat. "I don't have any power. It'll be more up to Ben and his counsel. It really could be anyone's game." She looked to the living room. Uma, Harry, Gil, Jay and Lonnie's eyes all gazed up at her. She walked slowly to them and just plopped down on the only empty chair.
"Can I at least ask who you were in favor for?" Uma asked. She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm done choosing sides," Mal admitted. "I think we need to give second chances." She looked up to Uma, who had a small smile growing on her lips. Her hair was back in its small braids. Her brown eyes gazed upon Mal in a friendly way. Mal was glad to have everyone back. It was great. Just to be able to sit together. Soon, the other four from the kitchen joined them. They talked the evening away.
Slowly, they began to disappear. First, Dizzy and Celia went to bed, then Gil, then Carlos, followed by Evie. Lonnie and Jay had disappeared from the house completely. As she talked with Uma and Harry, Mal could feel herself begin to tire. She was worn out. Her ribs were still healing after all of the bruising from Audrey's lightning. She yawned as the cat fell asleep on her lap.
"You better go to bed," Uma said after a moment of silence. "As much I would love to see you fall asleep at your meeting, I'm sure Ben wouldn't." Mal had to agree with that. After saying her goodnights to them both, she left and went upstairs.
Uma watched her go. When she turned her head back to Harry, his eyes were already on her. She could feel her cheeks heat up. Uma wasn't used to Harry looking at her this way. He seemed to be studying her every feature and was admiring it. "I think we should talk about what happened." He said this so softly, it took a moment for Uma to process it.
"What exactly? The kiss, or what happened after?" She adverted her eyes.
"All of it." She knew Harry was serious, because his voice wasn't playful, but sincere. Uma wished she didn't have this conflict inside of her. Her feelings were so unclear. "When I kissed you, you didn't pull away. At times, you would show something to me, but then you would take back the affection so quickly. Is there something wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you," Uma shook her head. "There's something wrong with me." Harry looked at her expectantly. When she didn't continue, Harry sighed.
"This is what I mean, you're keeping secrets." Harry inched closer to her. "Please, Uma..." He placed a hand on her own. A shock was sent through her skin as he touched her. "Talk to me."
"You said, in that dream you had," Uma choked on her words. "That I kissed you. Well...it...wasn't a dream." Uma looked to Harry as he took his eyes off her. It was a lot to process for him.
"You mean, you woke me?" Harry asked quietly. Uma nodded. The tension between them was thick; Uma didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Her heart began to beat fast as she spoke again.
"I was scared to tell you because, I'm not used to all of these feelings," Uma admitted. "I didn't know what you were going to think about my true love's kiss. I thought all that stuff was fake-maybe it is. I don't-" A finger under her chin tilted her face's to Harry's. His warm lips pressed against her own. She thought about the kiss in the stairwell. How she had never kissed him back. How she was so unsure of her feelings.
Her mind flickered to all of the memories of Harry. How he became her first mate. He was always so loyal to her. Always wanted to protect her. They had schemed to rule the world together. He stuck by her even when Rose was using them. All of the battles they had been through together. The first time Uma kissed him. How she held his hand when she was scared. How he always had let his guard down for her. He had come forward and kissed her softly at Evie's mom's castle. His smile that he'd give her.
Her feelings were suddenly sure.
Uma kissed Harry back. It was a gentle kiss that lasted only for a moment. When Uma and Harry pulled away, they looked into each other's eyes before sharing a small laugh. It was so fresh and exciting. Uma felt so many emotions of joy, love, and happiness flood over her. Harry gave her one of his special smiled as he tucked a single braid behind her ear.
"I think the feelings are pretty mutual," Harry said quietly. Uma nodded, still smiling. Harry leaned in again, but this time, Uma stopped him. She pressed her finger against his lips. His eyes gazed up to her.
"I want to keep this between us for a while," Uma whispered. "Just to get used to everything first, then we can come out. Okay?"
"Okay," Harry agreed. Uma removed her finger as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His lightly pulled her in by the waist as they kissed again. This one was filled with more passion. With every moment passing, Uma could feel herself begin to like this new feeling. Was this the love she had always heard talked about so badly? It couldn't be, because this just felt so...magnificent.
Staring at the stars, Jay and Lonnie laid back on the roof. It was the only place that always felt like theirs. It was always under the stars they had the best moments. Jay hadn't gazed at the stars without her ever. It was theirs and theirs alone. Even in the warm summer night, Lonnie had taken Jay's coat and wrapped herself in it. Jay didn't mind just wearing a thing shirt. When he was with her, he always felt warm.
"It's strange to think that everything will change now," Lonnie said quietly. "What if they decide to open the barrier, for good?"
"I don't know," Jay pondered it. "They probably won't open it permanently."
"You never know," Lonnie cuddled a little closer to jay. "I could meet your dad." Jay thought about the last time he saw his dad. He told Jay not to give up. He could use that to many things in his life. Lonnie included.
"Yeah," Jay nodded. "I think he would like you." He looked to her, she was smiling slightly. Planting a soft kiss on her forehead, Jay turned back to the stars.
"I wanted to let you know," Lonnie sighed. "I think the R.O.A.R. finals will be rescheduled again." Jay didn't say anything at first. He thought about how much he has missed her this past month. It was something he couldn't avoid. Either way.
"Will you come back for the wedding? Its in August," Jay asked.
"Yeah, but I'll be heading to knight training the next day," Lonnie sighed. "The world doesn't seem to be working in our favor, is it?"
"No, but I don't think I'll give it it's satisfaction," Jay said simply. "All you and I need to know is that we love each other and that we'll get through it. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I'm certain on my choice." Lonnie didn't say anything. He didn't expect her to. He was certain he wanted her, and that's all he needed to know.
"I love you," Lonnie said in a quite voice. A tear ran down her cheek. "But how can things be so certain for you all of a sudden? Before you didn't even know what you wanted to do with your life."
"I still don't," Jay admitted. "At least you've got it figured out."
"Okay, knight school for two years," Lonnie shrugged. "Then I become a knight for the castle."
"Seems like a plan to me," Jay said, looking at her. "What's wrong?"
"How's this going to work?" Lonnie asked. "Just us being together for so long, then being apart. It just...scares me. And if you're as certain as you say, then I don't want to be away from you."
"Neither do I," Jay said, propping himself up on his elbow. "But if there's one thing I've learned, I think if we're meant to be, we will be together. Think about it, knight school for two years. I'll come visit you, I'll call you, text you, write you letters, everything. Then, when you come home for good, I'll be right here for you. And if you're willing to accept, I'll propose to you right on the spot if you like. We can get married and spend the rest of lives together starting then. What two years together verses the rest of our lives."
Lonnie didn't answer. All she did was kiss him. He kissed back, a little surprised at her actions. When they separated, Lonnie looked at him with calm eyes. "I think I'd like that. But for now, I think I would like it just to be two crazy kids. With not a single care in the world. Then, I'll look forward to the future and get through it everyday." Jay smiled as he kissed her once more before they turned back to the stars.
Evie was sitting with Carlos on his bed. They had binged a few episodes of the show they watched together. With his arm around her, and her head resting on his chest, Evie wished she could spend the rest of the night there. They laid there for a while, just enjoying the other's company. Dude was already asleep at the foot of the bed. Evie could feel her her eyes become heavy.
"Don't fall asleep now," Carlos said quietly. "I don't think I have the strength to wake you myself." Evie's red lips curved into a smile as she placed her chin on his chest. Her eyes connected with his. She ran her finger along his chin. He caught it and kissed the ruby ring on her ring finger.
"I wish I could stay," Evie said lightly.
"I wish you could stay, too," Carlos' voice was soft. "You could, but I'm sure it would be a little suspicious to the other seven people who live in this house."
"Yeah," Evie agreed. She sat up and yawned. "Someday, this house will be empty and it'll just be you, and me."
"And Dude," Carlos added.
"And Dude."
"And maybe Dizzy."
"And maybe Dizzy."
"And the two kids."
"And the two-wait what?" Evie looked at Carlos. She was no longer drowsy. He looked a little shocked at her reaction.
"The two kids," Carlos came and sat next to her on the edge of the bed. "Evan and Charlotte DeVil. Brother and sister about three years apart. Evan will have the beautiful complexion of his mother, but the freckles of his father. His hair a dark shade of blue, mixed with little streaks of white. Charlotte will have brown hair, but the tips become white as they grow. Her voice will carry like a songbird."
"How did you know I loved the name, Charlotte?" Evie asked. It was so weird how he knew so much about people who didn't exist...yet.
"Because they're our kids," Carlos smiled. "When Rose struck that orb, some kind of magic ran through me. It showed me the future." Evie raised her eyebrows. It sounded to good be true.
"Are you serious?" Evie asked. She wouldn't know, her magic was gone. She was happy to be back to her normal self. Rose told if she ever wanted her magic back, she could have it. For now, Evie didn't want it, she didn't think she ever would again.
"Yes," Carlos grabbed Evie's hands. "I saw us, our kids. It was...amazing." Evie couldn't help but smile at the thought. Her and Carlos having a family of their own. It was wonderful to think about. How she would have a girl and a boy. Charlotte was the name she always loved since she was little. And now she would bring one into the world.
"What else did you see?" Evie asked. She was suddenly intrigued.
"Well, older Dizzy," Carlos shrugged. "We raised her as if she was ours." Evie squeezed his hands. They were already like the parents she never had. "And we were just...happy." Evie felt her heart melt. It was all she ever wanted. To be happy.
"I like the sound of that," Evie leaned forward and planted a kiss on Carlos' cheek. After a moment of lingering, the two kissed on the lips passionately. A minute had passed, and Evie pulled back. With one final hug and kiss goodnight, she went back to her room.
In the hall, Evie saw something she thought she wouldn't see. Uma leaned against her guest room door frame, and Harry was kissing her goodnight. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, hers around his neck. Evie crept quietly into her room with a smile still on her lips. She shut the door silently as she vowed to herself to keep the sight she saw a secret.
Back in the castle where night was well overhead, Rose had unsealed the walls to her old, childhood bedroom. She didn't have many things to bring in, but Ben helped her anyway. It all just seemed to good to be true. Belle wanted her to be back in the castle. The Belle that had once trapped her daughter away in a sealed room, hoping the power would just come out of Rose. The Belle that didn't care when her own daughter tried to kill herself. The Belle that had even tried to mold Rose into a perfect princess. Her perfect little princess.
But Rose wasn't a princess anymore, she was an enchantress.
"I didn't know this still stood," Ben looked around the mostly white room. He set the box down on her bed and continued to gaze. "I thought it burned down with the rest of the castle."
"There's too much history here," Rose said simply. She ran a hand over the bed's head bored. It was dusty, but Rose could fix that. "I had to preserve it." She caught her image in the vanity mirror.
In the cold, dark shadows of the night, Rose looked at herself. Cheeks streaked with drying tears, her breaths deep, her hands shaking as they lifted up to her throat. She looked at herself, terrified and weak. She closed her eyes as her claws began to grow on her fingers...
Belle brushed Rose's hair harshly into a perfect bun. Rose gazed at herself with dead eyes. They never faltered, they only looked into themselves, trying to find the should inside. She had failed her mission.
"There's my little princess," Belle squeezed her shoulders. Rose didn't even look like herself in the ballgown, the makeup, and the tiara.
Rose continued to gaze at herself. A tear streamed down her cheek. "I don't even know who I am anymore." The rose shriveled in its vase placed upon the vanity.
She had reentered the room, now dressed in her blue leather jacket. Rose looked at the mirror again and touched it. The same look of deadness loomed in her eyes. She had put back the rose she killed years ago. She looked back to herself, wondering where her soul had gone.
Now the rose was in full bloom. Its pink petals lush and the water as clear as glass. It was reborn, just like it's destroyer. Rose looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes weren't dead anymore. There was a soul behind them, and she knew exactly who she was, what she's meant for, and how to come back herself. In silence, Rose walked over to the vanity. Her fingers ran along the edge of the white wood.
As she did this, the white paint chipped off. It turned to dark wood at her touch. The mirror's edge was lined with rose engravings. The girl smiled to herself as her magic continued to drift to the walls. The white paper was torn down to reveal a starry sky. She made it like the magic wall she had in her cell. The sky would change in her room along with the one outside.
Ben watched with wonder as the carpet was torn up and replaced with hard wood. The bedframe now had carvings of roses. The comforter was replace with a blue one. It was amazing to watch. The ceiling began to reflect the stars. The chandelier continued to give off bright light. More pink roses began to print themselves onto furniture. The bare mannequin now held Rose's jacket and robe. Her boot were placed at the end of the bed. He looked to see Rose was wearing night clothes as she finished her spell. Her hair was now tucked back into its braid.
"I think that'll ought to do it," Rose put her hands on her hips. "Thanks for the help." She motioned to the box. All of her items placed themselves on the dresser, accept for the stuffed bear, which was sitting on her bed.
"Y-Yeah," Ben said, amazed "Um...goodnight?"
"Goodnight," Rose said smiling. She hugged her brother before saying, "Its good to be back..." Her words trailed off.
"Home," Ben finished for her. Rose looked up at him and grinned a little.
"Home."