Author's Notes: You guessed it! Here's the start to the third and final arc of this story. I can't believe it's finally here... I hope you continue to enjoy it as much as I am writing it! This has been such a blast.

Chapter Thirty
Together We Rise

"Come on, Addison, you know you've got this," Mal encouraged as Addison took in a shaky breath to steady herself.

Shooting Mal a look still filled with uncertainty after a month and a half of – admittedly wobbly – training, Addison gave herself a moment to try and find her elusive "center." People from all over Auradon – from Mal to the former queen Elsa to Rapunzel to Fairy Godmother had all described to Addison what it felt like to reach for and find that core of her that housed her magic, to feel for it, grasp ahold and direct it. Others had helped too, like Lonnie who practiced meditation every day and was trying to help guide Addison to finding that center of calm and peace inside.

So far, the results had been rather hit or miss.

After the rather spectacular water show following Ben's King-in-Waiting ceremony in which everyone had gotten more than a little waterlogged and Fairy Godmother's wand had been knocked off the boat and sunk to the bottom of the bay, Addison had spent a couple of weeks in the hospital focusing on simply getting back to a healthy weight and mental headspace.

She was still went to therapy even now, but the physical aspect was over. She'd been given the all-clear shortly after her stay at the hospital and was more or less fine physically. It was the emotional and mental strain that taxed her still.

It didn't help that she was filled with a quiet terror of her magic. She knew what happened when she lost control of it.

Everyone had been quick to assure her that, yes, she hadn't had some control due to her inexperience but that it was almost entirely because she'd been under a spell herself. Several, in fact.

It gave Addison a bit of peace of mind, but it was the "almost" part that sent her into anxiety spirals still. She knew the only way to get over her anxiety was to work on solving the problem, namely, learning how to use and control her magic. It was just that that involved actually using her still somewhat uncontrolled magic…which gave her anxiety.

It was a vicious circle.

But she was getting better. Elsa had been a tremendous help, knowing intimately what that position was like. She and her sister Queen Anna had helped Mal and Addison in more ways than one. Of course, they hadn't been able to stay long; Arendelle needed them. But they checked in often. Elsa and Anna both had given her and Mal their personal numbers and had told them to call at any time and for any reason. They knew all too well what it was like to be estranged sisters who then threw magic into the mix.

Between the outpouring from people like them and her friends, Addison felt like she was coming back to herself day by day.

But every day after school she had guided practice with Mal under Fairy Godmother's supervision, and it rocked her boat just a little bit each time.

"Fairy Godmother still isn't here," Addison pointed out. She gave Mal a weak smile when Mal only gave her a pointed look in return, knowing she was stalling.

"That's just for show anyways at this point." Mal paused. "Well, mostly." Mal had an almost absurd amount of control over her own magic. Fairy Godmother had been all but beaming with pride. "I'm sure she'll be along shortly. She said we could start without her."

Addison raised a dubious brow. "Did she?"

Mal shrugged. "Not in so many words, but, hey, she's got that thing about punctuality and she's not here, right? Seems like she trusts us."

"Trusts you, maybe," Addison muttered under her breath, her heartrate picking up as she tried to find her center. Remembering Lonnie's advice, she closed her eyes, hoping it'd help.

"You've got to learn to trust yourself."

Apparently Addison hadn't been as quiet as she'd thought. She sighed, blinking her eyes open. "Maybe we should wait."

"Maybe you're just stalling." Mal raised a brow in challenge and Addison pinched her lips together to keep from arguing, knowing Mal was right.

"Come on, Cheerleader," Eliza's voice called from the bleachers. "Can't change anything until you start taking those first steps forward."

"It's a new day," Bree agreed with a large smile though her eyes were a bit concerned.

"Maybe we should put this off just a little longer," Addison said, glancing at her friends milling about the bleachers. "I don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for," Mal assured her. "And while the solo act has been alright, you know you need victims – I mean, volunteers – to practice on. Your biggest talent is with singing. Kinda comes with the siren territory. And if you want to go around singing to bluebirds and sunshine without being worried about casting unwanted spells you need to consciously know what it feels like to actually do so."

Addison cringed. She'd been told that when she'd been spelled her voice had controlled most of the school and caused some pretty serious vandalism in the process. She didn't remember any of it, and Jay had assured her that the entire thing was actually pretty entertaining rather than harmful but Addison still felt terrible about it. She'd apologized to as many people as she could, and most had reassured her that it was fine – Doug and Jane had been especially sweet about it. But there were some, like Doug's cousin, Harold, who had been less than amused by being made to do mad stunts in public and hadn't forgiven her the insult to their egos.

When Wynter had accidentally let it slip that Addison had even put Wyatt in a trance, Addison had been shocked. He and Willa both had quickly cleared the air, but Addison had immediately asked who else she'd spelled. There had been a few quick exchanges of looks but Addison had been more than a little surprised to find out that most of her close friends had escaped unscathed. It had eased her heart to know she hadn't royally messed up everyone's lives, however inadvertently.

But now, after six weeks of training, Addison knew she'd had to brace herself for the next step in her lessons – purposely spelling others with her voice. Mal was right, Addison didn't want to start singing and bespell someone by accident, and she couldn't just not sing again for the rest of her life. She loved singing. It was kind of a part of her. Half of her, really, when you got down to the genetics.

Addison drew in a deep breath, held it for several long second and then released it slowly. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Mal tried not to laugh. "That's the spirit." She moved several paces away into the sunlight, her hair popping in its vibrant purple coloring and threw her arms out. "Take your best shot."

With a slight blush on her cheeks as everyone around them put headphones or earplugs in, Addison began to sing, picking the first tune that popped into her head, some song she'd heard on the radio, something about changes and new days and progress. She felt the rush of it beneath her skin, reveled in it the way one soaked up the sun on a warm beach, and knew there was magic behind her words.

Only, nothing happened.

Mal stood there for a long thirty seconds, braced against the magic, ready to use her own in an instant to counter it if need be. Instead she relaxed, her lips pulling into a slight frown. She held her hand up, the signal for Addison to stop and everyone to remove their headgear.

"What happened?" Eliza asked, her pen and notebook at the ready. She was taking notes for them, as curious about the entire process as they were. No one in their generation had been allowed to tamper with magic since they were practically in preschool.

"Nothing," Mal answered.

Eliza frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I could hear her voice, I could feel the emotions behind it but," she shrugged, "nothing beyond that." She darted a glance over at Addison. "Could you feel it?"

Addison nodded. "I could feel the magic moving through me…I'm pretty sure it was in the words."

"Felt like it," Mal said.

"What did you feel?" Eliza asked, scribbling away.

"Like change was coming, like we could do anything by working together." She looked at Addison who flushed. "Sound about right?"

"Yeah."

"But nothing more than that?" Eliza questioned. She looked between Addison and Mal with a concentrated frown. "Have you ever heard Addison sing…you know, before?"

"Yeah, of course I have."

"But you've never felt compelled to…do anything?" Mal shook her head in answer. "Huh." Eliza blinked.

"What do you think it means?" Bree asked. "Is Addie maybe just not, uh, giving it enough juice?" She gave Addison a quick look of apology but Addison just gave her a small, weary smile back.

"Could be," Eliza said absentmindedly. "But it might be even simpler than that."

"Got a theory?" Mal asked.

"It could just be because your sisters."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, maybe you feel it but the…compulsion behind it is mitigated by your shared genetics."

"What?" Bree asked, confused.

"You think it's because of our dad," Mal stated though it came out as more of a question.

Eliza shrugged. "It would make sense, wouldn't it? Like recognizing like. I imagine sirens can't exactly spell one another since, like mermaids, they like to sing in chorus and all. Maybe with Hades' genes inside both of you Addison's siren half sees the part of you that's similar in her and so you'll get caught in the emotional aspect but not ever feel the need to act upon it. At least, in theory."

"That does make sense," Bree said. She looked between Addison and Mal, her voice becoming tentative, knowing it was a bit of a tender subject. "Could you ask your dad about it?"

Mal and Addison exchanged a long glance. "I could try and ask him," Mal finally answered, feeling a pang of guilt when Addison looked away, trying to hide her disappointment.

One of the conditions on Addison's lack of banding, besides the major PTSD spiral it sent her into at the mere thought, was that she was forbidden from visiting the Other Side just yet. All the higher-ups from her therapist to Principal Lee to King Adam had agreed on this. Only Queen Belle and Fairy Godmother had seemed uncomfortable with the verdict.

Belle felt Addison had every right to meet and get to know her father, villain or no, but Adam had argued that Addison had been influenced enough by Uma and her pirates and should have "good" influence only until Addison had her powers under control. Fairy Godmother had been in agreement with Belle but it wasn't entirely her call; she did argue that Mal should still be allowed to come and go as she pleased, stating quite pointedly that Mal had had plenty of influence her entire life and was handling herself splendidly. No one had been able to contradict her so they'd allowed Mal her usual freedom though she'd been warned that they'd keep a close eye on her.

How Mal had managed to maintain a stoic, respectful face the entire time nobody knew as she'd seethed about it for a straight week after. Though she'd been able to keep it under wraps in public she ranted quietly with her friends. Ben had been completely sympathetic which had mollified her a bit.

While Eliza had been pleased about the progress being made, she too had questioned the price that was being paid for it. She'd volunteered to help Addison and Mal on the spot after hearing the verdict, stating that no one should be punished for their heritage. She was determined that Addison's training be a success.

Addison looked now at the golden dome encapsulating the Other Side and wondered. She'd tentatively asked Mal about Hades a couple of times since waking up in the hospital but as he had been largely uninvolved with Mal until recently there hadn't been much to tell. And between Addison herself, Ben, school, and Uma scouting – Uma and Harry still hadn't been caught – Mal had been too busy to go back to the Other Side much and track their father down. She'd managed it once, when Addison was still bedridden and hooked up to all the tubes and needles and things, to give a rushed explanation of what had happened before dashing to her apartment, stuffing a bag full of things, and getting back as quickly as she could.

Mal sighed quietly to herself, remembering the look of mixed relief, concern and frustration on her father's face as he'd all but glared at the transparent golden wall that divided Auradon. She really needed to go back for a visit. Maybe she'd tag along with Evie the next time she went to visit Dizzy.

"Yeah," she said again, more to herself and Addison than anyone else. "I'll ask him." Addison gave her a quick, small smile of gratitude that Mal returned before it vanished from both their faces. Things were getting better, but it was in fits and starts and more than a little frustrating.

"Right." Mal clapped her hands together. "Practice." She looked at Addison. "The sooner you get the all-clear on your control, the sooner you can go visit yourself."

Addison gave her a nervous smile. "Right."

"How are you going to practice if Addie's magic doesn't entirely work on you?" Bree asked.

"Looks like we'll need someone else for her to practice on." Mal glanced at Eliza and Bree.

"Oh no," Eliza said immediately. "I'm a scientist, not a test subject." She glanced at Addison. "No offense."

"None taken," Addison assured her.

Mal gave Bree a mischievous smile, making Bree's eyes go wide behind her glasses. "Guess that just leaves yo–"

"Hey guys!" Zed's voice called out as he rounded the bleachers with a small group of friends and teammates in tow. "How's practice?"

Bree breathed a sigh of relief at Mal's diverted attention. Eliza gave a snort of amusement beside her.

"Er, alright-ish," Addison admitted, warmth moving through her as Zed walked right up to her and scooped her up in a hug. She inhaled deeply, his scent stronger after tourney practice, not that she minded. It was a comforting blend of black pepper, boy sweat and grass. There were worse things.

Zed froze with his arms around his girlfriend as he spotted her sister giving him a look that made him a bit uneasy. His arms tightened a fraction as her eyes gleamed.

"Perfect timing, Zombie. We were just looking for a new target."

"Uh, is that so?" Zed laughed to hide his nerves. Mal could do that to a guy sometimes.

"We've determined that the compulsion behind Addison's singing doesn't work on Mal," Eliza explained as Bonzo slid into place beside Bree, Jay and Carlos filing into place behind them.

"It doesn't work?" Ben asked, giving Mal a quick hug of his own.

"I can feel the emotions, but not the compulsion," Mal summed up for them.

"That's useful," Carlos said and Bonzo nodded. "It'll keep the sibling rivalry thing down." Mal couldn't help but laugh at that; there was very little she and Addison had to compete for or desired that the other had. They hadn't even had much of an argument yet either; it was still rather new for them both. Mal bantered with Evie, Carlos and Jay all the time, but with Addison…well, the two of them were still tiptoeing around the other, trying not to make waves in an already rocky situation.

"Hades?" Ben asked, an unspoken question in his eyes.

"I'll try," Mal answered.

"What about writing to Olympus?"

Mal hesitated but considered the idea. "Possibly," she allowed.

That had come as one of the biggest surprises out of all of this.

Neither she nor Addison were exactly keen on contacting their extended Olympian family, but in a surprise move, Zeus and Poseidon had acknowledged their relationship to Mal and Addison since, disgraced or not, Hades was still their brother. Poseidon even went so far as to offer a token of help along with King Triton to Addison with her water affinity – Atlantis hadn't been entirely unaware of the change in sea currents during Addison's big number on the royal ship. One of his granddaughters had even found and returned Fairy Godmother's wand to her. Word had quickly spread under the sea of what had happened that night, and the Atlanteans had not only extended help with Addison's magic but in the search for Uma. King Triton remembered all too well the trouble Uma's mother, Ursula, had caused once upon a time.

"They want to help, Mal." Ben's voice was soft, not wanting to push her in a direction she didn't want to go.

"I know. It's just…they never reached out before."

"They didn't know Hades was your father until after you did – you were rather cut off from them for, well, most of your life." He bit back a wince. "And even after, with your M-band, they probably didn't count on…this." He finished as diplomatically as he could, giving her a sheepish smile that said he was trying to be unbiased because it was his job but likely failing. She gave him a smile in return, knowing he was trying. She kissed his cheek.

"I know. Thanks. I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask."

"Oh? That's all?" She teased and he grinned.

"So are you two done for the day?" Jay asked, ending the moment.

"No," Mal answered and she heard Addison's quiet sigh of disappointment. "We need a volunteer for Addison to practice on."

"I'll do it," Zed said without hesitation and everyone around them gave a silent sigh of relief, exchanging wry glances with one another for doing so.

"Zed," Addison warned.

"Hey, I'll be fine," he assured her with his usual confident grin. "You're going to do great, Addison. And Mal's right here should anything break your focus."

"Right." Addison gave him a dubious glance, trying to answer his confidence with her own but knowing she was hanging onto him just a little bit tighter than before. He gave the top of her silvered hair a kiss before disentangling himself and moving a little distance away on the field.

"Here about good?" He called back.

"Fine," Mal answered as she shooed Ben up onto the bleachers where he sat near Eliza to peer at her notes. He was just as invested in the outcome of all this as Eliza, perhaps more so, and had been following Mal and Addison's progress closely. It not only helped with his own plans but allowed him to have firsthand knowledge that he could report back to his parents and the council, giving Addison and Mal some breathing room in the process. They were under enough scrutiny and pressure as it was.

"Alright." Mal gave the signal and everyone but she and Zed plugged their ears. She nodded to Addison when Eliza gave a thumbs up.

Staring down the field at Zed with more than a little misgiving, Addison opened her mouth and began singing the same song as before. At the thirty second mark, Mal helped up her hand and Addison stopped singing. Mal was already shaking her head, purple curls swinging with the motion.

"I know, I know," Addison said before Mal could speak. "I didn't feel anything either."

"You're not going to hurt anyone," Mal reassured her. "I won't let it happen."

Addison bit her lip. She knew that in her head, but in her heart…

"Hey."

Addison looked up at Zed's approach, his feet crunching the springy grass on the field. He grasped her warmer hands in his cooler ones and gave them a squeeze. He waited until she made eye contact with him. "You're doing great, Addie. You've totally got this." He stepped closer, dropping his voice so only she could hear. "Pretend it's just us, alright? Like we're in the Zombie Light Garden, the lights glowing soft, our voices caught by the acoustics of the walls...Just the two of us."

She closed her eyes, letting the image fill her mind, letting it soothe her battered soul. Letting the magic and ambiance fill in the spaces around them, Zed's hands in hers offering comfort and stability. She breathed in deep and on the exhale began to sing, letting the words wrap around them, let them fill the imagined room, let the warmth inside her slide out to dance in the air with her joy and her love, and she felt herself smiling, reveling in it.

Words twirled upon her lips, the words in her heart that she hadn't yet spoken out loud. Someday, she promised herself. Someday soon she'd speak the words. When the time was right she'd say–

"I love you!"

Addison blinked open her eyes, startled. She stared at Zed with wide eyes but he was looking over at the bleachers, a little dumbfounded.

"I love you, Addison!"

Addison whirled to see Jay down on one knee on the bleachers, a hand over his heart, his other held out in her direction.

"I love you, too, Addison!" Carlos shouted, shoving Jay aside. The two began trying to shove the other down to stand taller than the other.

"I love you, Addie!" Bree called out and Addison's jaw dropped. Not to be outdone, Bonzo yelled something in Zombese.

"What?"

"Uh…did you mean for that to happen?" Zed asked, bemused.

"No," Addison cried, aghast. There was a snort of amusement and she turned to see Mal doubled-over in laughter.

"Addison!" Ben called out and she looked over warily. "I love you!"

"Hey!" Mal cried out, decidedly less amused than before.

Addison buried her face in her hands, groaning in humiliation. "Addie, hey." She felt something nudge her shoulder. She peeked up from her hands to see Zed fighting and losing his battle against a grin. He nodded towards the bleachers and she looked over to see the others coming out of the spell, their faces a mix of embarrassed, confused and overset.

The compulsion was wearing off.

Only Eliza sat in the midst of the group still scribbling away in her notebook. When she noticed everyone looking about in confusion she popped her earbuds out.

"What happened? It looked like everyone suddenly went a little crazy."

"They were all confessing their love of Addison to her," Mal answered with an impish grin, watching all the faces around her flush in embarrassment but none so much as Addison who had buried herself behind her hands again with a moan of mortification.

Eliza looked around at her fellow schoolmates. "Didn't get your earplugs in fast enough, huh?" She was answered by a mumbled chorus of assents. She didn't bother to hide her grin before looking back out onto the field, her brows scrunching in confusion. "Zed?"

"Yeah?" He looked up at his friend.

"Anything?"

Zed shook his head. "Just Addie singing." He smiled warmly at Addison when she dared to glance his way.

"So, you didn't react to the compulsion? At all?" Eliza asked.

"Nope," Mal affirmed. "Romeo here just stood there looking a little confused by the show."

"Weird." Eliza took a moment to contemplate. She looked at Addison. "Do it again."

"What?" Addison gaped. Her sentiment was echoed around the group but Eliza ignored them.

"Not the sappy love song one, something else. Focus on Zed. Try to make him fall asleep or something." She noticed movement around her. "Uh-uh, sit tight, guys, and no ear plugs. If Addison's trying to learn control we'll know how well she's focusing if she can keep it contained to the field." She picked up her earbuds.

"And you're excused why?" Jay asked with a glare.

Eliza grinned. "For science." And popped the earbuds in, effectively ending the conversation though she knew Jay was grumbling from the mutinous look on his face.

Mal shook her head, smiling all the while. "She's right, guys."

Bree sighed. "They both are."

"Sorry, Bree," Addison called out from the field.

"It's alright. You're doing great, Addie!" Bree called back to her closest friend, giving her an encouraging smile.

"Ready?" Zed asked Addison who groaned out an emphatic "no." He grinned. "You've got this." And moved back out further onto the field.

With an aggrieved sigh, Addison drew in a deep breath, trying not to wince as she noticed everyone on the bleachers brace themselves, and began to sing, choosing a soothing melody this time, willing them to relax. In moments, everyone was leaning against each other or moving to curl up on the metal bleacher seats like they were ultra-soft mattress beds. This time Addison trailed off in confusion as Zed still stood wide-awake across from her on the field.

"Huh." Mal moved up to stand beside her. "Interesting."

"Is that good or bad?" Addison asked, glancing over at their drowsy friends, Eliza writing down everything she observed, a look of intense concentration on her face as she studied everything around her.

"Don't know yet." Mal answered honestly. "Eliza's theory about you and me make a whacky sort of sense. But with your Zombie," she shrugged, "I honestly don't know."

"We should ask Fairy Godmother."

"Definitely."

"Maybe it's a Zombie-thing?"

"No, Bonzo is obviously enthralled. He's practically snoring on the bleachers, and though I don't understand a word of Zombie-tongue, I'm pretty sure he was confessing his love right alongside the rest of them."

"Maybe there's some kind of gene that runs in Zed's family?" Addison theorized as Zed crossed the field to stand beside them. He caught the tail end of the conversation.

"Couldn't be," Zed answered before Mal could. "It worked on Zoey." Addison whirled on him, her eyes wide and Zed winced.

"What about Zoey?"

"Uh," he looked at Mal but she was giving him a look crossed between wishing to kill him and signaling that he was on his own. They hadn't told Addison about her bespelling Zoey yet. "Yeah, well, a few months ago, when you were running with Uma and her crew, you kinda spelled Zoey."

"I what?" Addison couldn't have looked more horrified if she'd tried and Zed instantly felt guilty. This wasn't how they'd planned to tell her.

"It's alright," he assured her. "She was fine. My dad panicked when he couldn't find her and we'd searched all of Zombietown for her – but she was fine, really!" Zed felt his mouth moving and wished he could make it stop. As Addison's eyes filled with tears he looked at Mal in desperation to see her pinching her mouth together and shaking her head at him.

"Hey." She grabbed Addison's hand and pulled her around. "Look at me." She waited until Addison met her gaze. "She was fine. She is fine. Doesn't even remember it." She squeezed Addison's hand. "I was there. The kid was perfectly happy and safe. You two were playing games with one of Uma's crewmates."

"It was part of Uma's plan, Addison." Eliza had joined their little knot on the field, having abandoned their lethargic friends on the bleachers to join the conversation. "She was looking to get at me so I could help free her and her crew. She used you and Zoey to lure me out. Zoey was fine. You've seen it yourself, remember?"

Addison nodded, acknowledging Eliza's words though she still felt riddled with guilt and horror.

Zoey had wrangled special permission to visit Addison in the hospital during her stay there. People had a hard time saying no to Zed's adorable little sister.

Everyone had cautioned Zoey to be careful, but she'd clamored right up onto Addison's bed the instant she was in the room to wrap her arms around Addison and chirp merrily at her about how happy she was that they'd found her. Zoey's visits had turned out to do Addison a world of good – the little girl gave out an abundance of hugs and curled right up to Addison all the time, chatting excitedly about all the events of her day.

It had relaxed Addison as Zoey treated her the same as ever before. When even Zed had been slightly cautious with her at that time, aware of Addison's changes and her pain and trying to tread carefully Zoey had accepted all of Addison's changes with a shrug and continued on as always, pointing out that she too was changing all the time, making a point to show she was taller and losing another tooth.

She knew Addison was sick at the time – just like her brother had been in the hospital for a time while he was sick, and that Addison had tired easily and often had bad dreams, but was so ecstatic that Addison had been found and was getting better that she just eagerly chatted about how she couldn't wait for Addison to come visit her at her house again and spend the night. 'I'll let you hold Zander if you get scared or have a bad dream,' she had promised.

Addison smiled at the memory even now. "You're right," she said, looking at the trio around her. "All of you, but," she bit her lip and looked at Zed. "Your dad must've been so upset. I can only imagine."

"He's fine, Addison, I promise. He's just as thrilled as Zoey and I that you're okay."

Addison thought that the 'okay' bit was more or less a matter of personal opinion, but was smart enough not to voice it out loud. "But your dad –"

"He understands what happened, Addison," Eliza said.

"Would any parent be 'okay' with it if their child suddenly disappeared?" Addison asked, her voice quiet. "Because they shouldn't be."

Everyone looked at one another, unsure how to respond.

Things between Addison, Missy and Dale were still strained. Addison had effectively moved out by the time she'd left the hospital; the couple hadn't even bothered to stop by for a visit when she'd been bedridden.

After Cotillion, Evie had had enough money from all of the dresses and suits and accessories she'd made that Doug, with the help of his Uncle Doc who had found his calling in realty, had helped her find a delightful little cottage in Auradon for a good price.

Some had looked upon this purchase with trepidation, but as Ben had pointed out to the disgruntled council members, if Addison was banned from the Other Side altogether and Mal not really supposed to visit often, it left them with few options. Besides, Evie, Jay and Carlos had been model students.

Mal had chocked on her drink when Ben had related the story to her later.

Evie had renamed her "little starter castle" Evie's 4Hearts after the fashion line she'd begun, taking over the glass atrium on the side of the cottage for her studio, and had immediately invited Carlos, Jay, Mal and Addison to move in with her.

It had been a major adjustment for them all, but it was another step forward, and also gave them all a home they could relax in and allowed them to concentrate on their studies, Addison in particular. It wasn't always easy, but at least she'd had somewhere to go.

"Hey, Addie!" Bree called out from the bleachers, having finally woken from her lassitude. She didn't know what was being said exactly but felt like she needed to break up the tension. "Jane wants to know if we're still meeting her at the library to study."

"Yeah," Addison said, letting the moment pass with a disappointed sigh. "Tell her we'll meet her there." She had a tremendous amount of schoolwork she was just finally starting to catch up on. Eliza, Carlos, Bree, Jane and Zed had been lifesavers when it came to keeping her from drowning in it all. Zed had finally just caught up on his own last week and was determined that he help her get there herself. "Shall we go?" She looked at Eliza and Zed who nodded and they moved toward the bleachers to grab their backpacks and gear.

Addison looked over at Mal who was trailing just a bit behind, lost in her own thoughts. "See you later tonight?"

"Hmm? Yeah." Mal shook herself out of her thoughts. "See you at home."

There was a palpable pause. "Right."

Mal watched everyone gather up their things and head toward the library, Jay calling out that he was headed to the gym and would meet them back home later.

"Home." Mal muttered.

"What about it?" Ben asked, looking down at his girlfriend in concern at her tone. He noticed that she was watching Addison with a troubled frown. She did that a lot lately.

"It's not home to her," Mal tried to explain. "I don't know if it'll ever be."

"She just needs time, Mal." Ben put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close. "Her entire world has changed. She's still trying to find solid ground to stand upon. She probably doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere just yet."

"She belongs with us."

"I know that," Ben reassured her. "And you know that. Addison probably even knows that in her head, but in her heart? It probably looks so easy to her, watching how you all just naturally live together and adapted to your new home, but Addison's never had to do that – she never had siblings until now and suddenly she has an entire house full. And it's not even the house she's known her entire life."

"Do you think she should go back to the Wells'?"

"Absolutely not." Ben's answer was immediate. "I mean, I hope there's some kind of reconciliation between them one day, but unfortunately that's not looking like it'll be anytime soon. And Addison needs family and support right now, something you, Evie, Carlos and Jay are all willing and able to do." He smiled warmly down at her. "I'm so proud of you."

"We're a riotous bunch of misfits," Mal agreed with a quick grin. "Emphasis on the starting a riot part." She sighed. "I just wish I knew what else I could do to help."

"We all do." He gave her a one-armed hug. "But you're doing great, Mal. Really. Remember, it's only been a few weeks. It'll just take time." He paused. "How's her sleep?"

Mal cringed. "Off and on. But better than before."

"See? Progress."

She couldn't help but smile at his optimism. "Right. Progress."

They walked side-by-side in companionable silence for a moment before Ben broke it to ask, "Are you going to ask Hades about Addison's singing?"

Mal shrugged. "I can try. Since the siren thing comes from her mom I don't know how much he'll know about it. And the other side of the family isn't talking. All we know is what Bucky managed to wrangle out of his parents – that Addison's mother is her formerly-assumed aunt, younger sister to Princess Aurora and Melisandre, or Missy, as she apparently prefers. And Audrey's not talking."

Ben frowned. "I haven't seen her around as much now that I think about it."

"Any luck on the Uma front?" Mal asked, not wanting Ben to think too much about his former girlfriend. Audrey had done nothing but give her and Addison the cold shoulder since Cotillion. Mal had been tempted more than once to light a fire under the princess's pretty pink boots and to try and thaw her out.

"There's been signs of magic usage here and there," Ben admitted. "But there's no way to confirm if it was Uma or someone else. Uma and Harry haven't been spotted, at least, and we're keeping close tabs on Uma's crew." He glanced around discreetly. "We're keeping that all quiet though. I don't want anyone making assumptions or jumping to conclusions about you and Addison. You have enough to deal with right now."

Mal smiled up at her boyfriend, her heart swelling with love. She paused her footsteps, making him come to a halt beside her and she rose up on her toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

His slow answering grin made her blush. Her eyes fluttered closed an instant before his warm lips pressed gently against hers in a soft, endearing kiss. When he stepped back she felt herself sigh and wasn't even embarrassed by it.

"It's all going to work out, Mal. You'll see. It's going to be better than ever."

Dark eyes glared at the scene taking place inside the glowing green glass.

"Better than ever? Tsk. Not likely." Slim fingers stroked the twisted dark staff almost lovingly. "Enjoy it while you can, Mal. I run the show around here. How are our plans moving?"

"Well, uh, it t-took some time, of course, heh, but you know that already," a voice answered with a tremulous gulp. "But almost there!"

Lips curved up in a dark, satisfied smile. "Almost time for my debut. Maybe I should get my nails redone. I want to look my best for our little show – it'll be to die for." A cackle of gleeful laughter followed and the staff held in hand glowed a poisonous green in response.