"I should head to Harmonica, but you're just so cute, I wanna stay and play with you!" Evie gushed over her new black goat, giggling when the little thing baaed and lipped at Evie's hand one more time.

"She'll be a great new friend at Serenity!" Finn said, just as happily from his perch between the kid's long twitchy ears. Evie nodded absently and glanced over the small lambs nearby… perhaps she should get two new friends. None of the new lambs were black-faced like Clotho, but there were three Fates, not just one.

Toby looked up from the small goat he was carefully brushing. A little too carefully if the utterly blissful look on its face was any indication. Like most the goats on the farm, the one Toby had claimed for himself was a bright white, nose almost pink under the thin layer of fuzz. Very cute, but Evie fed her startlingly black Athena another sliver of apple without an ounce of regret. She got to her feet with another pat to Athena's head, ready for her long walk to town.

"I would go with you, but Paolo made me promise to wait for him here. He wanted to name this one when he saw her for himself," Toby said, frowning slightly. He dusted off his palms and got up as well. "I'll walk till we run into him."

Evie managed to pull up the side of her mouth and hoped it looked like the smile it was supposed to be. "You don't have to do that."

Toby's frown, which had smoothed into an amused smile as his new kid bumped into his legs and bleated plaintively, returned with his eyebrows slowly rising. "I don't mind the walk," he said slowly.

Evie huffed out something like a laugh and waved a hand. "I know that. Just didn't want to drag you hither and yon."

Toby stepped closer, glanced towards Hanna across the barnyard among the cows, and then raised a hand to touch Evie's chin. She kept her gaze on his face, tilting her head questioningly as she smiled a little wider.

"I've never been dragged behind you, Evvy," Toby said quietly. "Keeping up with you may be a bit beyond me most times, but I never mind tryin'."

Evie's cheeks flushed and the mask dropped as she looked away. Too flustered to keep up the act, heart thumping painfully. "You say that, but sometimes I'm the one feeling like I'm always trying to keep up with you."

"Evvy, I don't want—"

"So y'all ready to pay the piper, or just me?" Hanna called over as she came around one of her many cows, keeping a hand on its hindquarters so as to not surprise it as she left its line of sight.

"Ah, yes," Evie jerked away from Toby, away from the fingertips still gently touching the point of her chin, and turned to Hanna. "Cain will bring Athena around, right?"

"As we do," Hanna agreed. Her bright, miss-nothing eyes darted between Toby and Evie curiously. She clapped her hands briskly. "Let's get settled then." She led them briskly back to the shop.

Toby reached out and grabbed Evie's arm to slow her down when she moved to match Hanna's pace. Evie turned to see his frown still there, and she wanted to throw her comment away. Throw away the conversation she heard. Throw away the weird, twisty sense of betrayal— at Toby's little white lie, or at her own blasè actions that might've hurt someone she genuinely liked, she wasn't quite sure which.

She also wanted to throw away the sense of relief. And loathing at what that feeling meant. What she was capable of doing to the person standing in front of her, how easy it would be to say just the right(wrong) words and just. Not care.

Not have to care so damn much about this man in front of her whose frown made her want to punch whoever created it.

"Toby, I didn't mean anything by it," Evie said with a practiced sort of nonchalance. A party trick she had taught herself to get out.

"I think you did mean something by it," Toby disagreed, almost scowling now.

Evie forced a laugh and rolled her eyes. "You don't know me that well."

His hand dropped. His own party trick slid onto his face; that inscrutable mask that made him look like a pensive fox in a fable. It had disappointment aimed only at herself sinking like a rock in her stomach. "I know you well enough to know what you're doing now."

Silence fell and Evie broke first. Shame colored her cheeks as she spun around, her eyes on the darting gleam of Finn's light that had been the only reason she'd managed to hold her tongue. She stomped towards Horn Ranch without another word to Toby. Paolo was running down the hill, the blue shine of Ben's light at his shoulder, when Evie made it to the porch, Toby still far behind her.

Another sickening sense of relief made her smile easier, and wider, when she paid for her new goat, as well as another small lamb she had already decided to name Lachesis. When Toby entered the shop, Paolo was chatting his ear off and any private conversation would be put on hold.

Even if the weight of Toby's gaze was heavy on her back as she flitted back out the shop and into her blessedly busy schedule.

The door she stood in front of next was not a door she thought she'd be knocking on quite this often. It swung open and Gill, clad in a polka-dotted red-and-purple apron, stood there.

"I don't think those colors are supposed to go together," Evie blurted, her first grin since she left Horn Ranch on her face.

"Miss Evelyn?" he said, baffled. He was already stepping back. "And Mr. Finn. Good morning."

"Good morning, Mr. Gill!"

"For about another hour!" Evie chirped. She stepped in and froze.

She said she saw you at Goldstein's, and it looked… strange.

At Gill's expression falling into deeper lines of confusion thanks to her hesitance in the middle of his doorway, Evie pasted on her party trick smile and walked in fully. And didn't look over her shoulder like some naughty… cheater or whatever. For the first time since Toby's explanation that morning, Evie was mad at Renee. Then, immediately felt like crap when she remembered Hanna throwing the 'm' word around just an hour ago.

"Miss Evelyn?" Gill repeated. Evie glanced up to see him and Finn already in the dining/kitchen area, an open cookie tin in Gill's hands. She huffed and toed off her shoes.

"You're going to fill him up and spoil his appetite," Evie accused.

"No, he won't! Cookies don't count," Finn said firmly.

"Says the sprite with a stomach the size of a thimble. Only one."

"Okay," Finn whined, munching his allotted cookie mulishly.

"Since you obviously didn't come for the cookies, I hope you're not here to invite yourself to lunch? Oh, no, did my father forget he invited you?" Gill asked, aghast.

"No, no, none of the above!" Evie laughed. "We were supposed to have a powwow about the fall crops and what to do about the Wishing Shrine. If you're busy cooking, though, we can actually make an appointment and I'll head out."

"Hm… no, that's not necessary. We can have a… a powwow now," Gill said, eyebrows rising even as he smiled. "Your friend just left this morning, and you're here already. You're very prompt."

Evie flushed behind Gill's back when he turned to the stove. Luckily. Half the reason she'd come straight here was sheer desperation leading her feet. At least here, she didn't talk around in circles and get nothing done— didn't lie to herself about how she was feeling, or feel betrayed by someone else's lie. After a chat with Gill, things just… got resolved. No messy emotions or confused love triangles she may or may not have been a part of, no thudding hearts and green eyes that made her wish— The lid on the pan closed and Gill set the spoon on one of those special spoon dishes only Real AdultsTM had near their stoves.

"Would you like tea… or…" Gill's quick, shrewd glance caught her face over his shoulder. "Perhaps coffee today?"

"Coffee," Evie all but sobbed as she slumped into a chair at the dining table. "That sounds perfect. Today is a Desperate Coffee Day. All caps."

"All… caps?" Gill repeated, chuckling.

"Do we have time for that? Isn't your da- the Mayor coming soon?" Evie stuttered, a little confused.

"Most the town just calls him Hamilton, but Mayor is preferable, thank you. This town can be so informal," Gill said with a 'tsk'. "And no, he isn't coming so soon, and yes, we should have time for a cup of coffee. I came early to give myself time to make a proper risotto for lunch. My father forgets to eat real meals sometimes, so I like to make a decent lunch. Thank the Tree I've come back to take care of him properly."

Evie propped her chin on her fists, elbows resting on the tabletop, and grinned sleepily at Gill's back. "You're a total sweetheart, arencha? You shouldn't hide all the soft boy you've got going on."

"All the soft bo- what? I do not- I'm not!?" Gill sputtered while the kettle rattled on the burner dangerously. Evie laughed. "Please, let's return to serious matters."

"Yes, yes, serious things," Evie agreed, hands up in surrender. She pulled the list from Marimba out of her pocket and read the items aloud to Gill. "I was thinking pumpkins? Or yams?" she concluded.

Gill hummed thoughtfully. A whistle rent the air, then a click of the burner turning off. Within moments, the glorious fragrance of coffee filled the kitchen room.

Evie moaned appreciatively, sitting up straight and reaching with grabby fingers. "Issit my coffee?"

"You can wait two to three more minutes, Miss Evelyn," Gill admonished, an eyebrow raised at her antics. She pouted and threw herself over the table theatrically. "By the way, I think the best crop might not be a crop."

Evie rolled her head to the side to peer across the room at him. "Come again?"

"A flower," he answered simply. He putzed around the stove and counter a bit more, and then walked over to the table holding a tray of cups, saucers, a French press filled with dark, dark coffee, and a few other coffee things. He set it all down and tapped the list next to Evie's elbow. "Bluemist flowers are a great profit. The best, honestly, if you invest some auree in good fertilizer."

Evie slowly sat up, trying to crunch the numbers. "Okay, yeah… that's… that's probably right… but there's a, um, problem." Gill's eyebrow raised as he set out the cups, the little milk jug, and a sugar bowl. Evie ducked her head. "I… um, I keep." She broke off, then quickly, "I keep killing all the flowers I plant!"

Silence.

"It's true!" Finn burst in. "I managed to save a few sunflowers, but all the others died! And the lavenders in spring, too!"

Evie shrunk lower and lower, face utterly scarlet by the end. "You don't need to help, Finn."

She peeked out from under her bangs. Gill was turned away, his hand over his mouth, shoulders shaking. Just barely, she could see the pink on Gill's fair skin and crinkles around his eyes.

"Go ahead and laugh," Evie exclaimed. She dropped her forehead to the table with a thunk.

"R-really?" he managed to get out without giving in to his humor. "Flowers are your downfall? Not magical Bells or sprites, not mining with a broken leg—"

"I didn't mine while it was broken," she muttered in vain.

"— not even a dilapidated house that leaked in a storm. Oh no, it's flowers."

"Some of those things don't even— aren't even applicable comparisons!" Evie was laughing despite herself, though. Gill finally gave into his chuckles, still hidden demurely behind his hand. "I guess it's a little funny."

"Only a little," he said with a gleam in his bright blue eyes.

"I could try at least," Evie sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "How many would I need to sell?"

"I can check that." He looked down at the coffee things, still waiting to be served. "Um, this is a bit rude, but would you mind setting out the coffee? While I do some calculations?" he asked, a little flushed as he moved towards the hutch.

"Uh, yeah, sure. How do you like it?"

Evie set everything out— her own cup with too much milk and Gill's with too much sugar, that he'd blushed to admit— and sat back, leg jiggling, as Gill curled over a familiar moleskin notebook. She took a few sips, gave a contented sigh, and gulped.

"Mama always had cinnamon in hers," Evie said quietly. "During winter, I'd buy those spicy mochas, yanno? It wasn't quite the same, but I liked it."

"I have some cinnamon," Gill said absently, blinking owlishly over his tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses. Evie grinned and shook her head.

"Nah. It doesn't taste quite the same, either. You do your math, Mr. Gill."

"It's not so difficult," he said, looking down and tapping at the page. "I was just accounting for soil quality. Here's two different scenarios, though I can easily adjust it depending on the fertilizer you buy." He slid the notebook over and neatly folded his glasses away.

Evie's jaw dropped. "You're already… what? Without even a calculator?"

"It's simple arithmetic. If you'd like for me draw up a plan with a different crop, I could do so?"

Evie pursed her lips, but decided not to retort. Especially when she caught sight of his smirk before his coffee cup could completely cover it. She yanked the notebook to herself and looked down. "Holy shmoly. How many flowers?" she gasped to herself. Finn hovered over the notebook curiously.

"Uh oh, Evie. That's a lot."

She gnawed on her lip, frowning. Even with her crappy math skills, the speed the flowers could grow and the profit she could make was easier and faster than with something slower like pumpkins and yams, even if they did regrow throughout the season. There was nothing for it, but to…

Evie sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "We'll start small, Finn. And have a plot of another crop that's less delicate, just in case. I've spent the last two seasons growing crops, though, I'm sure I can do this. I will do this," she said fiercely, clenching a fist tightly. She smiled over at Finn. "I'll need your help, Twinkletoes."

"You betcha! We'll do it together!" Finn exclaimed, zooming up to cuddle against her cheek. She smiled a little more softly and cuddled back gently.

"That sounds reasonable. I'll see which crop is a viable second option…" Gill offered with a pleased curve of his lips. As his pencil scratched over paper, he added, "You could also buy a second plot. At the very least, it would help with boosting the quantity."

"A second plot of land? What, like a real farmer?" Evie replied with an incredulous little laugh. Gill frowned.

"Miss Evelyn, you are a real farmer. Without a store and seed selling business, you managed a profit on par with Marimba this past season. A season that isn't even finished yet," he told her firmly, brows drawn tightly together.

Evie shrugged and rubbed the back of her neck, eyes on the distant window and the late morning sunshine. "I had plenty of help. I know Finn wasn't just dancing around my crops."

"I sometimes was, dancing's fun!" Finn disagreed with a twinkle of bells. "You made the flowers sad, but the rest of the plants were happy all because of you, Evie."

Evie felt her cheeks heat and she flapped a hand. "Shush that."

"Strange, Gill said quietly. Evie met his pensive gaze, and felt pinned, X-rayed, under the bright blue. "You don't seem like someone who enjoys fishing for compliments."

"Wh-what? I don't! … do I?" she stammered.

"Then, perhaps you could stop with the faux-humility act. You're good at what you do, at what you're doing here."

That heat suffused her whole face, up over her ears and down to her collarbones.

"it's… it's not that," she mumbled, shifting awkwardly on his eat. "It's… I'm having so much help. There's literally magic in the air, and the soil, and the water, and everything. How good would I be without that crutch?"

Gill sighed softly. "That magic, this crutch as you call it, it's back because of you. Everyone and everything in Castanet is benefiting, including yourself. If there's a crutch, you built it. Besides, crutches were invented for a reason. Don't be so ableist, Evelyn." He smirked, really smirked, as her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

"Well… that's just…" she sputtered. Only to burst into laughter. "I can't even argue with that!"

"I am quite clever."

Evie laughed hard enough to gasp, a hand over her mouth and her cheeks actually hurting. She barely heard Gill's softer chuckles under her own guffawing. As she gulped in air and Finn patted her head in concern, Gill cleared his throat.

"There was another item to discuss. You'll be happy to know my father already agreed to offer Pastor Park a small house. He found a forgotten budget plan for a Pastor's living expense in the town's charter. He felt absolutely awful about it and went to see Pastor Park immediately."

Evie leaned forward on her hands eagerly, Gill sipping from his coffee and raising an eyebrow at her sudden excitement. "You mean we can plan something for the Shrine now?"

"Mm, yes, or bring back an old one." Evie's eyebrows jumped up and her head tilted to the side. Next to her, Finn all but mirrored the action and Gill's lips twitched.

"An old one what?" Finn asked, wings still buzzing with Evie's palpable excitement.

"Has anyone told either of you about Thanksgiving? Castanet's Thanksgiving?" he asked, eyes jumping from Evie to Finn. The two glanced at each other. Finn shook his head and Evie shrugged. They both turned back to Gill with echoing and puzzled 'no's. "Well, Pastor Park and I had an idea…"

When Evie left Gill's house soon after that, stomach rumbling despite being full of coffee, she and Finn were buzzing with Gill's idea— Finn literally so. The noon heat was already pressing down on them, golden and heavy, although the sun wasn't quite at its zenith yet. Dara must have been napping the day away, because there was barely a breath of wind to lift the weight. She knew Casey was waiting and Finn wanted lunch sooner rather than later… but. Her eyes caught on the dark pink roof of Sonata Tailoring and Evie couldn't help but remember how odd Candace (and Luna) had acted the other day. And how long it'd been since she'd really sat and talked with Candace. Surely just a few minutes of Candace's soothing company wouldn't be too much.

Plus… there was a question eating at her. A question she couldn't ask anyone else without a creeping, crawling feeling of shame. Candace had never made her feel that way.

"Eeeeviiiiee," Finn whined when he noticed her jogging down the slope.

"You know you like Candace. And you just had two entire cookies. You ain't dying, Tinks."

"Says you," the sprite said mutinously. "But… I do like Candace. I wish she could see me, too, then, it wouldn't be so bad."

Evie smiled over at him ruefully. "Soon, little man. Soon."

"Just one more Bell!" Finn agreed cheerfully, zipping around her head a moment later.

And a whole season at least… she thought to herself, gnawing on her bottom lip. She didn't have a lot a time before another certain deadline crept up on her…

The doorbell jangled as she swung into the shop. Shelly was sitting behind the counter knitting. With a smile and a wave towards the private area, Evie sidled quickly into the kitchen. The empty kitchen and dining room. Frowning just a little, she kept walking to the other door. Faintly, she could make out the strumming of music— violins and pianos and other classical-sounding instruments— and the kchking of a machine.

Hesitantly, Evie knocked. The machine sounds ended abruptly before Candace's voice called out from the other side.

"Yes? Come in?"

The door swung open and Evie peered around curiously. The backroom was a huge open space, with partition splitting the large space into half rooms without actual doors. The area right in front of her seemed to be a living room kind of area, and the only door was across from her, just ajar enough for her to catch sight of tiled walls and a bathroom counter. She stepped further in, Finn twinkling past her, and saw the obvious bedroom in the next half-partitioned room and across the length of the wide room, was Candace sitting at a large, glossy sewing desk, half-turned in her chair to face Evie. Her eyes went wide in surprise, a delighted smile lighting up her face.

"Hey, you. Ya miss me?" Evie greeted as she shut the door behind her.

"Of course!" Candace exclaimed in her soft, quiet way. She leapt to her feet and flicked off the small, old-fashioned CD player while Evie stomped across the room and gazed around curiously. Finn was darting over the flowers and hearts hanging on the walls when she got to Candace, already grinning. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Good! I don't want you to replace me while I'm off being distracted," Evie teased. She swept Candace up in a bear-hug reminiscent of Luke at his finest and set Candace back on her feet with barely a grunt and sheepish smile. "Even if I probably deserve it."

"No, no, of course not!" Candace said, shaking her head a little too wildly, smiling happily and flushed from the hug. "Did you have a nice visit with Ms. Cristina? She was so lovely in person. I'm glad she came to see you!"

"Yeah, me, too," Evie agreed. "We had a great time and she really liked it. She was happy to get outta here, though. We won't make a country mouse outta her."

"And Mr. Casey?"

"Eh, still here. He says he'll probably stick around till fall. Wanna have lunch with… uh. What's that?" Evie asked, her eyes catching on a pile of bright blue velvet and frothy white lace at the sewing desk. She walked over, pulling off her glove, and touched her fingers very gingerly and carefully to the velvet. It all but shimmered under her hand. "Is this going in the shop?" she asked with eyebrows high.

"Oh no, that's for a costume. For Halloween," Candace explained quickly.

"… Halloween? I didn't think you guys celebrated that here!" Evie said in a mix of confusion and excitement.

"Normally, we don't. Evie… didn't you see the posters? Or didn't Mr. Goldstein tell you?"

"You mean Gill? Gill knows? We've been too busy with other stuff, he's never mentioned Halloween. What posters?" Evie asked, shaking her head.

"Evie, what's Halloween? Why are you so excited?" Finn asked as he flopped onto her head with a huff. "Does this mean you're gonna talk longer?"

She bit back a chuckle.

"Luna planned a Halloween event! We'll have costume contests and party games, and most the townfolk have already agreed to trick-o-treating, too. She wanted something to boost our inventory and to put up online. She thinks maybe we'll get some popularity, some… something like brand recognition before the fashion show at the end of the year," Candace explained quickly, hands fidgeting anxiously with her cardigan, but eyes glowing with pride and excitement for her sister.

"This is a great idea. Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's right around my birthday, I get a ton of free candy, and I get to dress up however I want. I used to go all out for the campus parties," Evie said with a wide smile.

"Free candy?! Can I get free holloween candy, too?" Finn asked.

"Oh, your birthd-?" Candace started, but Evie was already looking at the pile of fabric again.

"You think you'll have something in shop for me to buy? Who's this for?" Evie asked, peering around the desk, wondering if there were an order form or something with a name on it.

"J-Julius, actually. I called him to let him know… and he said he wanted to be our first customer for our special hand-made costume deal," Candace explained, voice smaller and smaller as her cheeks got redder and her fingers fidgeted more.

"I'm glad you two are talking again… but… you're acting like you're hiding some big secret. Candy, what's going on? What'd I miss?" Evie asked with wide eyes. Horror-struck, her throat and mouth went dry. "You two… aren't…?"

Candace frowned slightly in confusion, then her eyes widened and she shook her head wildly. "Oh no! Nothing like that! We're just… we're trying to be friends again. Like we were before! But anything… anything else. It's…" Candace looked away, eyes distant and soft. "I suppose we missed that chance."

Evie let out a relieved breath and touched Candace's shoulder. She startled in place and met Evie's sincere auburn gaze. "I'm glad you two are trying to be friends again. You deserve to be able to move on from all that. Closure… and stuff…" Evie rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

Candace smiled and nodded once. "Yes, it's nice to remember the dreams I used to have, and the relationship Julius and I had. We had such a long talk, Evie, about everything. And he apologized for his behavior the other day and—"

"Wait… what? What other day? What happened?" Evie asked, bewildered.

"Oh…" Candace's lips pressed together tightly. "He was… rather rude. To Luke, not me," she explained quickly at Evie's scowl. The scowl was replaced with shock. "And right after Luke made this beautiful desk for me." Candace's face lit up, eyes shining and cheeks flushed again. "Oh, Evie, look at it! Isn't it wonderful?!"

Her hands grasped Evie's and she tugged her forward. Actually tugged at Evie. She pointed out each minute detail of her new work desk, gushing over every amenity and ingenuous quirk. The pretty spring-like colors and winter-esque design, the ribbon that Luke and her sister had put in as an extra surprise. Maybe the stars in Candace's eyes blinded her, but, for once, Evie wasn't quite as oblivious. As her friend spoke, Evie could see how each stroke of paint, every handcrafted and lacquered knob, each stitch in yellow felt and white ribbon, all but screamed Luke's feelings for the giftee. Evie laid her palm on the smooth, glossily finished surface, and listened, with small winces, as Candace finally described the terrible argument and almost fight that had taken place.

Candace fiddled with her cardigan, frowning slightly. "Julius said he'd talk to Luke soon. That he'd make it right and apologize properly, but… Evie… I don't know if Julius was even totally at fault for it…" she barely managed to whisper.

Evie's eyebrows jumped up. "I dunno, I think he was asking for a lot of that."

"He did say terrible things! I'm not excusing that! It was awful, what he said to Luke, how he belittled him like that, I… I almost hung up the phone when he called afterwards… but…" Candace slowly sat down and touched the yellow felt where her wrists rested. "Luke wasn't himself either. Honestly, Evie, I've never seen Luke like that. He was… he was angry. Almost violently so. I don't think they'll ever get along, even if Julius sincerely apologizes."

Evie fell onto the nearest bed with a thump and sigh. "Well… you can't really know for sure, but there's always gonna be people that just don't get along. Does it really matter if they get along or not?"

Candace plucked at her pleated skirt. "I suppose not… I just hate the idea of my friends… of them disliking each other. I know it's silly that I forgave Julius so easily, but I really believe he's sincere. Under all those prickles and judgments, Julius actually cares so much. He was my best friend, and I missed him. I really did."

"Of course you did. I know a little bit of that person, too. He can be really great, when he's not sticking his foot in his mouth around you. Or Luna." Evie grinned. "I love it when Julius manages to pull one over on Luna, though. The look of sheer rage at his audacity is hilarious."

Candace giggled, then broke off looking aghast. Evie just laughed unabashedly.

"So, whenever you're done with Mr. Fancy, do you think you'll have time to make me something, too? Your customer Number Two?" Evie asked.

"I'll always make time for my friends," Candace promised fervently.

"Candy! You are the sweetest person alive!" Evie exclaimed, throwing both her arms around Candace's shoulders and making the smaller woman squeak and giggle. "I gotta decide on what I want— what about you? Do you have an idea for you?" She pulled away to meet Candace's eyes again.

"N-Not really? Julius suggest I pair with him, if I wanted to, but," Candace pressed her lips together.

"But that's kinda couple-y."

Candace blushed and nodded. "Even if I know it's only for friendship's sake, Luna would never allow it. Not… quietly…"

Evie actually threw her head back to laugh. "That's really really true. Me n' Luke had an old joke once, and we had the perfect idea for a big group costume. I bet Luke would still be in for it. You wanna group with us instead?"

"I've never done something like that before. You really want me to join you two? It might be more fun with just you two," Candace said worriedly.

"No way, it's more fun with you. And Luke would definitely prefer couple-costuming with you than with me anyway," Evie said with a lopsided smirk. Oh crap. The blood drained from her head when she realized what she'd just said. Oh, Luna was going to kill her, hell, Evie was about to seppuku all up in this town because that was a secret— She was already flailing her hands wildly, half-laughing and trying not to sweat, as she sputtered, "I mean, we've had enough people double-guess about us and our weird nicknames for each other. We don't need to make it any weirder. Cuz me n' Luke are just friends, but you and him, I mean, that wouldn't be so weird, right?"

"Oh… Evie."

Evie pulled up short and stared. During all her scrambling, she hadn't noticed the rising terror in Candace's eyes or her rapidly paling cheeks. "C-Candy? Candy, are you all right?"

"How… how l-long have you kn-nown? D-Did L-Luna… ?" Candace whispered, so quietly and hoarsely Evie had to lean closer to catch it.

"Uh… known?"

"Evie, what'd you say?" Finn exclaimed from the pillow. He blinked groggily over at them, obviously having had his dozing interrupted. "Why's Candace crying?"

"I… Candy? What's wrong?" Evie asked as Candace bloodless hands twisted and yanked at her cardigan and tears filmed her lashes.

"I know Luna is trying t-to help, and she must've g-gotten you t-to help, t-too, b-b-but Evie p-please don't. You and L-Luke are s-s-so c-close, you have to know it'll just end b-badly!" Candace all but wailed, before burying her face in her hands

Evie flailed, absolutely bewildered, as Finn zipped over to them in a jarring cacophony of trills. Candace glanced up with a sniffle.

"I-Is that the sh-shop b-bell?"

"No, it was nothing. Candace, please tell me what's going on? What about Luna and Luke?"

Candace sniffled again as her bloodshot eyes darted over Evie's face. Slowly, blood returned with a vengeance, turning her the same shade as a ripe tomato, horror pulling her eyes even wider and her mouth gaping.

"Oh… oh no. Oh, I'm so- I can't believe-! Of course Luna wouldn't have- It's nothing! Nothing!" Candace shrieked, voice shrill enough to make dogs bark.

Evie reared back, Finn perched on her shoulder and reeling back with her.

"What in the world?" Evie gasped. Candace buried her face in her hands, but her ears were burning red this time. "Candace… Candace, do you like Luke?" Evie finally managed to blurt.

A small, tinny sound like a tea kettle escaped the huddled ball of blue humiliated misery in front of her.

"Oh my Goddess," Evie whispered. Then, burst out laughing. "Oh my Goddess. Candy, you almost gave me a heart attack and that's it?"

"What's she so sad about? Now they can live happily ever after, right?" Finn asked, looking indignant and bewildered. "Humans are weird. Even Candace." He shook his head and sighed. Evie laughed even harder, sides splitting as she wheezed.

"I knew it. It is ridiculous," Candace whispered under her mass of blue hair.

That shut off the laughter with a burbling hiccup. "Huh, what? No, no, that's not why I'm laughing!" Evie hurried forward, Finn hovering over her head as she knelt next to Candace. "I'm sorry I laughed, I was just shocked. Candy, listen to me, okay? Hey?" Candace lowered her hands just enough to peek shiny, wet, blue eyes from under her bangs. Evie smiled encouragingly even as her heart squelched with guilt. "I've never heard anything less ridiculous. I think you and Luke? You two would be great together."

Candace squeaked and sniffled. "R-really?"

"Really really."

"B-but… Luke and I… we're just so different," Candace whispered. "He's so busy and energetic and fun, Evie. I'm not fun or lively like that. We'd be so unsuited. If I told him I had feelings for him, I'd ruin everything." She sniffled again as she lowered her head.

Evie got to her feet to grab a box of tissues from the bedside table, mentally shrieking— don't say it, don't say it, don't you dare say it— before heading straight back to Candace. She mumbled a 'thank you' and began mopping at her face.

"Candace Sonata," Evie started, making Candace look up and squeak, "you're one of the best people I've ever met. You're kind, selfless, and sweet. If anyone thought you having feelings for them was a problem, they'd be the crazy ones. I'm sure Luke thinks the same way I do. We're all friends, aren't we? And he likes spending time with you, doesn't he?"

Candace dabbed at her nose and nodded dubiously. "I suppose… but he'd never see me like… like that. As more than a friend. I'm going to be twenty-five soon, and he's… he just turned twenty. I'm probably more like an boring older sister." She twisted the damp and crumpled tissue in her hands, cheeks redder than her eyes.

"There are plenty of people with that age gap! It's not that bad at all, Candy! Look at Jin and Anissa!"

"But Jin is—"

Evie snorted loudly and Candace jumped in her seat. "If you say 'he's a man', like that's some sort of good argument, I'm gonna be real disappointed in you. I'll shake that nonsense right outta your head."

Candace giggled wetly. Then, slowly, tore at the tissue. "But that doesn't… it doesn't make me less boring, Evie. He's so bright, you know? He deserves someone who can keep up with him, that wouldn't hold him back. I know Selena Toucan has been talking with him—"

Evie cut a hand through the air. "You. You need to stop being so bad to yourself. You're just as bright and wonderful and deserving of good things as anyone else. If you honestly think Luke sees you as only a friend, then fine. But if you only think that because you don't think you're good enough for him, then you haven't been paying attention. To me, to Luna, to Luke even. You deserve to say what you want, Candy, and get it, too!"

"You… You mean it? I should… I should tell him?" Candace asked with too-wide eyes.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do, that kinda defeats the purpose," Evie teased, flicking hair away from Candace's face. "But if you do tell him, and if he doesn't feel the same, you know what he won't do?"

Candace shook her head.

"He won't be a jerk about it. He'll still care about you, as a friend, no matter what. He can be a real big dummy, but he's one of the good ones."

"He's not a dummy," Candace protested quietly.

"He's kinda a dummy!" Finn said stoutly. "That's why he's fun!" Evie grinned as Finn perched in her breast pocket. "Is Candy better now?"

"You good, Candy?" she asked for Finn. Candace nodded.

"Thank you, Evie. Luna's been… supportive, but… she doesn't know him like you do. It's such a relief finally telling you," Candace confessed. The two shared smiles before Evie sat back on her heels and ran a hand over her hair.

"Jeez, I never would've thought today would be a day of romantic confessions and advice. I'm not cut out for this," she admitted with a rueful laugh.

Candace threw away her tissues and gave Evie a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"When I was in Flute Fields earlier, Anissa sorta caught me," Evie said with a lopsided smile. Candace's eyes widened as she let out a soft 'oh'. "She wanted some… I guess, 'outsider' perspective."

"An outsider!?" Finn yelped angrily.

"You're not an outsider, Evie," Candace protested quickly. "You just don't have all our history."

"Thanks, Candy," Evie said, heart warming at her friend's firm assurance. The Wishes still resting there throbbed.

Candace flushed and began to fiddle with the beginnings of Julius's costume. "Besides, you have your own r-romance, right? Why wouldn't you be able to give advice?"

And that warm feeling disappeared. She could feel the grimace pulling at the corners of her lips, pinching at the edges of her eyes. Candace turned when Evie didn't reply, and blinked at seeing her twisting expression.

"Evie?" She gently touched Evie's knee. Evie raised a hand to wave it away with some trite platitude, laugh it off as nothing. But she couldn't. Her hand fell limply.

"Candace… if I ask you something… that has to do with that history… and maybe isn't my business… would you answer me honestly?" Evie asked lowly, throat clenching tight. Finn peered up at her chin, concern making his wings flutter.

Candace's hand squeezed her knee briefly. "Of course, Evie."

"Were Toby… and Renee…" Evie stammered. Candace gasped quietly as she leaned back. Evie's mouth snapped shut, pulling tight to keep her lips from trembling. "They were, then."

"No, and yes?" Candace said slowly, fingers twisting. "They weren't dating."

"But."

Candace winced at Evie's hard, bitten off voice. "But… they spent a lot of time together, and got along so well. I'm not sure about Toby… we aren't as close as we used to be, or even as close as we are now, but Renee…" Candace's fingers twisted harder in her cardigan, the thin wool creaking in her grip. "Everyone knew how Renee felt. It was one of those… worst kept secrets. My gra'mama used to gossip with Ms. Erble and Mrs. Yolanda about it…" she admitted. She jerked upright and gripped Evie's hands. "But Evie, it was just gossip. It's such a small town, all people have is gossip, who will marry who, who's leaving and who's coming, what business is failing and if the wind will ever blow right again."

Evie nodded and grasped Candace's hands. "I know. I get it. But… it doesn't change there was something, and no one… no one said anything. I feel like… I feel guilty," she whispered softly, cheeks flushing. "I like Renee so much, and I got in the way—"

"No, no, you didn't! Toby had more than enough time. He can be slow and take his time, but if he were serious about Renee he would've said something. I've never… I've never seen him…" Candace broke off and tried to smile, a little tremulous and timid. "I've never seen him like this, how he is with you. It's like he's more awake. Like there's something to wake up for. Maybe… maybe if you never came, Renee would've told him how she felt, maybe he might've opened up his eyes a bit more and seen her differently, but that didn't happen. It's not your fault that you showed up and were just… you."

Instead of making her feel better, the snakes in her stomach returned. Writhing and twisting deep in her gut as her cheeks flamed red and goosebumps crawled down her arms and legs. She felt green, and she had to pull away a hand to press it to her mouth.

Not because she hated what she heard. Not because it was even bad. It was because… it sounded so… familiar. She couldn't help but remember that first moment she met him, down by the Waterwheel. Watching his eyes open wide, a startling, beautiful green that had had her face flushing. Remembering that awkward touch to her elbow, as if he needed just a little more, and the way she reached out on the same compulsion. Dragged him inside and fell asleep smiling. She'd never… she'd never fallen that hard or fast before. Never fallen at all, really. She had her little crushes, people she'd liked and experimented with. But she had always cared more about whatever hobby she was a part of, about an active social life fluttering from group to group to group. Staying still? Settling in one place, with one person, long enough to fall in l-

She tore her hand away from Candace and go to her feet, stomping away, only to pace the length of the beds and grip at her hair.

"I don't have time for this!" Evie snapped. "I have too much to worry about, to think about! I'm smarter than this! So stupid. I'm so stupid!"

"What's going on? Evie, what's wrong?" Finn exclaimed, zooming out her pocket to chime in her wake, back and forth. "You're not stupid!"

"Evie, please, just sit, Evie," Candace begged, also on her feet and wringing her hands.

"No, I'm fine. It's fine. I have more important things to do, so what does all this romantic crap even matter? It doesn't," Evie continued, the words bubbling like froth past her lips, hands flapping in the air as she pace-stomped back and forth. "Why did I even— what was even the point? It's just a bunch of romantic drama. It wasn't supposed to be anything. I don't have time for this!"

"What does that mean—" Candace tried to ask.

Evie pulled up short, fingers curling into fists, as she snapped, "I don't know what I mean!" At Candace. She'd snapped at Candace.

Wide eyes stared into Evie's furious gaze. Candace covered her mouth with her hands, barely muffling a little gasp. But it was the small, thin cry before Finn flung himself against her chest and grabbed her shirt that yanked Evie out of her impotent self-fury.

"Evie, why are you so sad? I don't understand what's happening!" he wailed, trembling and chiming all over. Guilt hit her again, a heavy, brass-knuckle punch to her still roiling stomach, and she doubled over, cupping Finn carefully in both hands.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Evie whispered fervently. That confused fear leaked into her veins, feelings not quite her own and shimmering along the edges. She breathed in, and out, slowly and carefully, whispering again and again words of apology until that trembling fear faded.

"Evie… who are you talking to?"

Slowly sinking down to the floor, Evie leaning against the nearest bed and smiled awkwardly up at Candace. Her vision was a little blurry, and her glasses were sliding down her nose, but she could make out Candace's blue eyes darting over her face. It helped when Candace knelt down in front of her, tucking her skirt neatly under her knees.

"I didn't mean to snap at you," Evie said instead. Candace pushed her hair out of her face as she shook her head.

"It's nothing. You're obviously upset, and you didn't say anything cruel or mean," Candace said quickly. "Evie… I know it's a lot, everything with you and Toby, and finding out about Renee, it's a lot. But p-please… p-please, don't do anything you'll r-regret."

Evie sighed and patted at Finn trembling against her chest, carefully curled around the motion to shield it from Candace. "I'm not… trying to mess up, but it feels like no matter what I do, something else slips away. It's like running back and forth on a teeter-totter." She chuckled under her breath, wry and rueful. "I don't even know what I'm doing."

Candace shuffled forward a little more and gripped the hand hanging over Evie's knee listlessly. Finn sniffled and rubbed his damp, snotty face against her shirt.

"You're doing your best, just like me, right? We're doing our best together," Finn whispered.

"Evie," Candace whispered, her hand trembling and squeezing around Evie's. She took a small breath. "You don't have to push yourself, or p-punish yourself for being a normal p-person. Those B-Bells will still b-be there, no m-matter what."

"What."

The word passed her lips, shaking and raw. Although Candace's cheeks were pink and her eyes too wide and her grip on Evie's hand too light, she didn't look away or take it back. Evie licked her dry lips, but her tongue, her throat, her whole mouth was dry as a bone.

Finn's wings chimed— Candace twitched and blinked— as he tugged Evie's shirt. "Evie, it doesn't have to be a secret. Paolo and Gill already know. Tell Candace."

"I… but they could already see you…" Evie said hoarsely.

"You helped them see. You can help Candace, too! I know you can!" Finn encouraged, wings chiming even louder.

"Evie?"

She jerked and looked over into Candace's wary gaze. "Uh…" Finn floated upwards and they exchanged looks.

"Is that… that's a…?" Candace asked slowly, eyes darting between Evie and the general area where Finn hovered.

"Y-yeah, it's… he's a fairy. A sprite, actually. His name is Finn."

Candace gasped, eyes somehow unfocused. "I thought… just a few times I thought I saw something or heard something. Those little bells that follow you around? That's… him? Finn?"

"Yeah, that's Finn," Evie smiled over at him as he beamed happily. "C'mon, tinkers, let's greet her properly." She gently disentangled her hand from Candace's and held up her hands for Finn to land neatly on her palms. Both Candace and Evie shifted so they sat facing each other, Candace still on her knees while Evie criss-crossed with a grimace. This whole sitting on the floor thing was already making her butt numb. "Here he is."

"Hiya!" Finn cheered, bowing neatly just like his older siblings.

Candace blinked. Then, tilted her head to the side and squinted. She shook her head and tried squinting again while tilting her head to the other side.

"I can… almost see something? Like there's a ball of light… maybe here?" Candace said curiously, pointing just a few centimeters from where Finn was standing, impatiently, excitedly.

"Yeah! It's me!"

"Almost yeah." Evie bit her bottom lip. "I have… kinda an idea. Finn, why don't you try standing on Candace's hands? Candy?"

"Oh, like this?" Candace held up her cupped palms. Finn bounced over to Candace's waiting hand. Her mouth fell into a dazed smile. "Oh. Is that… it feels warm. Like holding a candle flame."

"It's working!" Finn said giddily.

Frowning in concentration, Evie placed her hands under Candace's, cradling them gently. She gnawed ever harder on her bottom lip and tightened her hands around Candace's. Then, she dug deep. Down past the hot weight of the Wishes. Down further to where the echoes king on the mount lingered. Where Bell melodies still Rang, needing only the slightest opening to spill forth. A sharp pain stabbed behind her eyes and her vision went spotty. But she could feel it: a constant thrumming, like the blood in her veins.

"Candy," she whispered, her voice sounding lower, softer, echoing against her skull as it began to pound. Candace's hands jerked in hers. "Right there, can you see? He's small, with a yellow stocking cap and shirt. His hair is green and his eyes are black…"

"I…" Candace shook her head and then squinted.

"See him, Candy. He's right there. He's about the size of my hand, and he's got wings, can you hear them?"

"C'mon, you can do it, Candace!" Finn all but breathed the words. His wings buzzed at his back, the jingle of the bells spilling out of their cupped palms like water. Like light.

Candace's eyes widened, and her breath caught loud and shaken in her throat. Instead of her strangely unfocused stare, her blue eyes sharpened, meeting Finn's hopefully black eyes directly. "Bumblebees. Your wings are just like a bumblebee." Said wings flapped as fast as a hummingbird's, blurring out of sight. "Hello, Mr. Finn."

"HI!" Finn squealed, then burst into shy giggles behind his hand.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Finn, I can't hear you very well," Candace said with a little twist to her awed smile. "It just sounds like bells."

"It's okay! You'll get- Evie?!" Finn shrieked in alarm. He darted from Candace's hand so suddenly she pulled back on reflex. Her hands slipped from Evie's slack grip.

In turn, Evie wobbled, blinked, and muttered, "whoops."

"Candace, you gotta grab her!"

"Wha- Oh no!"

Soft, warm hands grabbed Evie's biceps while tiny, useless tugs jerked at Evie's shirt. And the world went dark.

When she came to, her first thought was 'wow, I'm hungry', followed quickly by 'wow, my head hurts.'

"Is she going to be okay?" Candace tremulously asked.

"I think she's coming around now. Stand back, please," answered Dr. Wang's firm and quiet voice.

"She only over-extended her gift, Ms. Sonata. She needs food and rest," added another much more surprising voice.

"W-Wizard?" Evie croaked.

"I went and got him, Evie," Finn whispered in a thick, damp voice. She turned her head sluggishly and opened bleary, blurry eyes to see her little fairy friend sitting close by her head and wringing his hands. "Did I do right?"

"You're awake!" Candace announced unnecessarily, eyes as red and wet as Finn's.

"Yeah," she groaned, rubbing her forehead with a heavy hand. "'m fine." When she dropped her hand and looked around, she finally noticed a dozen extra faces around her.

Okay, so like 8 total. But when she passed out in only Candace and Finn's company, waking up to so many more was a bit… jarring. She pushed herself onto her hands and, before she could wobble, Casey was already next to her, an arm around her shoulders and a worried scowl on his face. Just past him, Jin, Candace, the Wizard, as well as Maya, Pastor Park, Luna, and Shelly were all hovering nearby with various expressions of concern and anxiety. Evie closed her eyes with another groan and pressed her face to Casey's shoulder.

"Really, hermanita? You can't even make it to lunch without passing out places?" Casey scolded, his hold tightening slightly.

"You're really more trouble than you're worth, Tallesin!" Luna harrumphed even as a visible amount of tension left her body on a near-silent sigh.

Evie laughed lightly. Finn fluttered up to the shoulder away from Casey and nuzzled close.

"Luna, p-please," Candace protested. Her cardigan was so wrung and wrinkled by her hands, it might have been permanently misshapen.

"I didn't mean for you to get sick, Evie. I'm sorry," Finn said as fresh tears slid down his round, pudgy cheeks.

"Sorry, sorry, no, it's my fault. I was just pushed myself a bit too hard," Evie said quickly, trying to sit up straighter without Casey's help.

"You think I haven't figured out you've been running around since Cristina left this morning? You were supposed to take a nap," Casey said with an eyeroll. And without moving too far away despite her flounderings.

"You haven't had anything to eat in hours and it's so hot outside and you've been all over Castanet! It's no wonder you fainted!" Maya said tearfully. "Granny's already cooking you up a real nice stew. It'll perk ya right up!"

"Thanks, Maya," Evie said with a thin, wan smile. Though, it was more because she didn't have the energy for a real smile. The idea of that stew already had her empty stomach grumbling.

"You'll still need rest after that," Jin said. His thin, elegant brow rose over his shining spectacles. It wasn't until the sunlight hit his silver, wire frames that she realized just why her vision was still all blurry. "You'll also need plenty of fluids."

"I had coffee with Gill earlier?" Evie tried to joke as she reached for her glasses. Vision restored, she clearly watched as Jin's other eyebrow lifted. Nothing in his expression looked amused.

"Water, Ms. Tallesin."

Evie ducked her head and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, I know. I got it."

"I'll get you some water now, Evie. I should've thought of that already," Candace said. She glanced over at Finn, then met Evie's eyes. They shared a small, private smile before Candace hurried away.

"I'll go tell Granny we're coming over now! You hurry over for your lunch!" Maya said, rushing after Candace. Evie huffed, curls flying over her nose.

"You really gotta stop doing this fainting thing. Next time, I'm gonna faint, too, and then what are ya gonna do?" Finn admonished between sniffles.

"Sorry," she whispered, nuzzling his head against her cheek. Casey smirked and helped Evie shuffle to the side of the bed. She looked up towards the Wizard, then over to Pastor Park. "Sorry, um… I didn't mean to interrupt your day…?"

"It was a good idea to request my presence," the Wizard said, shrugging.

"I happened to be spending the afternoon with Mr. Wizard when he said he had to urgently leave. I really meant to find you to thank you in different circumstances," Perry said quickly, an awkward and shy smile on his face.

"Uh? Thank me?"

"Mayor Hamilton told me you and his son are the reason for my new address," Perry answered.

Luna glanced at him, then away quickly, cheeks pinks.

"Oh! Right! Gill said it'd been approved. You really moved fast!"

"Not yet, but soon," Perry corrected with a chuckle.

"I'd love to help—"

"Oh no, you won't!" "Lupe! Really?" Luna and Casey both exclaimed at the same time. Evie cringed with an awkward grin.

"Okay, okay, no helping today."

"I think the only thing you should be thinking of is going home," Shelly said, a little tut escaping her.

"After lunch at Ocarina, I'm taking you straight there," Casey said.

"And I'll make sure he does!" Finn added sternly.

Evie grinned wider and laughed a little. "I got it."

"Should she really go so far? There's plenty of room here," Luna offered with a dubious frown.

"Yes, of course you can stay here, Evie!" Candace agreed as she came back with a full glass of water.

"I really don't need to do that! I'm already feeling better!" Evie protested.

"She should be fine to return home after some water and food. As long as you take it slowly," Jin said.

The Wizard leaned in closer, ostensibly to help Casey get her on her feet, but really to murmur quietly, "I would also suggest no more using your gift in ways it isn't meant to be used."

Evie flushed under Casey's curious gaze and the Wizard's knowing one. She nodded once and began to chug down the water. It didn't take long for the group to break up, Dr. Wang with a few more words of advice, and go their separate ways. During the short walk to Ocarina, Evie filled Casey in on the meaning of the Wizard's warning as she, Candace, and Finn exchanged guilty, awkward glances.

"But that means you can… you can use magic?" Casey whispered hoarsely.

"No, no way. You saw what happened! And you heard the Wizard. I shouldn't have done that, and I won't. My head is still killing me!"

"I should've known… or stopped you… I'm so sorry, this is my fault," Candace said, hands wringing at her already ruined cardigan.

"Nah, it was mine. I had an idea and I threw myself into it. It's the broken leg thing all over again. But you know, a different kind of dumb," Evie assured her quickly with a one-armed hug. "And it's not your fault, either, Finn. You were right about it not needing to be a secret. I should've let Candace learn to see you on her own, like Paolo did."

"If you're sure…" Finn said, wings trilling. Candace's eyes went soft and awed as those bells returned and she could see the little fairy making the sounds. "Now that you can see me, Candace, can you make pancakes?!"

"Finn!" Evie gasped, laughing hard enough to shake Candace, whom was still half-tucked under her arm.

"Did he say… my name?" Candace asked, eyes even wider and starry, cheeks flushing pink.

"If you're admitting you're all kinds of dumb, does that mean you're finally maturing, hermanita?" Casey asked blithely, his hands clasped behind his head and his eyes staring upwards. He looked over in time to smirk as Evie elbowed him in the ribs. "Yow! Jeez! You're a freaking He-Man these days. What's with the crazy strength?" he whined, clutching at his side.

"I'll show you He-Man," Evie muttered dangerously.

"W-we're at the inn, p-please, let's j-just eat?" Candace pleaded.

Evie and Casey huffed and nudged each other one more time, then Casey got the last nudge before he darted into the building, snickering. Evie rolled her eyes and re-hooked her arm around Candace's shoulders.

"Finn wants to know if you'll cook him pancakes and, also, would you be my wife so you can always cook him pancakes?" Evie asked, grinning.

Candace burst into giggles, face burning. "I promise to cook him pancakes, and there's no marriage required."

"Yay!" Finn cheered, buzzing around their heads.

"Aw man, I thought that totally woulda convinced you," Evie said, snapping her fingers and sighing dramatically. They walked into Ocarina, the three of them laughing.


A/N: ...I managed two chapters... I ended up getting distracted by other fandom things, and also work requires WORK. Lots of new classes and schedules to worry about. BUT. I wiLL FINISH THIS DAMN STORY. um... i hope y'all don't mind... all this... (what a chapter to come back with, amirite, but YAY CANDY!)