With Luke's easy fix of Evie's most pressing problem, the next hour or so actually passed in relative harmony. But it still hung over their heads, even more so after Luke left to meet Bo. There were strange looks from Renee towards Toby that Evie just barely managed to catch between bites, too. Looks that Toby either never saw or calmly ignored. Evie glanced over to where Finn was lounging on the tabletop, hand patting his tummy bulging with fried eggs and toast, and smiled slightly. At least someone at the table was back to completely normal.

"What's the plan today with the weather like this?" Renee asked curiously.

Evie gnawed her bottom lip, and then nodded. "I think… Fugue Forest."

Her friends' eyes widened. "Fugue Forest? In this storm?" Toby repeated after the short pause.

"Yeah, I gotta cut enough lumber to finish this friggin' place," Evie said, waving her hand expansively around them. "The trees are thick enough, I'll barely even notice the storm. And… well, Renee, if you don't mind giving up a day of fishing, I wanted to ask you to come with me."

Renee stared at her. "Me? Go with you to chop wood? Why in the world…?"

"Not for the chopping part, but you mentioned once you wanted to meet the Witch Princess…?" Evie began slowly and leadingly, a hand behind her neck.

"We're going today?! YAY!" Finn cheered, jumping up– completely forgetting his overfull stomach– and zooming around their heads. "We're going for the Green Bell!"

"You're going to meet her!? She's back?" Renee exclaimed, eyes shining and her whole body leaning over the table towards Evie.

"Actually, I've already met her once. It just didn't… go well. I was gonna bring her something, like some juice or ice cream or something," Evie admitted sheepishly. She definitely wasn't hoping to bribe the Witch Princess's goodwill, only she definitely was.

"Oh, ice cream's a good idea! I've got a Maker in my house. We can stop there and whip something up," Renee said, clapping her hands together as her eyes got starry and excited.

"We'll make a couple different ones, so she can choose her favorite. Who knows what a witch princess would like," Evie said, half-laughing. "You sure you don't mind giving up a day of fishing? We probably won't take all day, but I know the time of the day is important sometimes…?"

Renee was already shaking her head. "I definitely don't mind. I can do some late night fishing if I havta."

"Knowing this kinda storm, it probably won't blow over in a day, either. She'll have a few more chances," Toby added. Evie frowned, glancing towards her front window and the storm-ravaged field outside. He reached over and touched her hand, a small encouraging smile on his face when she glanced back at him. "It will blow over, though, and you'll make it up."

Evie smiled back, shoulders slumping and her hand turning over to press their palms together. "Thanks. I guess it's obvious how worried I am. Just all that work, and all those crops that are already gone." She sighed and looked outside again.

Finn darted over to snuggle against her cheek, wings tickling her ear. "It'll be okay, Evie. We'll make it up together."

Evie tilted her head to rub her cheek to Finn's. "There are other ways to make up the money, too." She grinned at Toby and moved her hand away, bringing up both fists in front of her as her jaw clenched. "Mining and fishing. Plus, my animals are producing better and better quality products to sell. I can use to today to make up the difference of wood and make up the money tomorrow."

"Let's focus on today, though," Renee said, giggling. "We should clean up so we can get to the ranch and Make that ice cream."

"Oh, right!" Evie exclaimed, stumbling to her feet and making the dishes on the table rattle.

"That's my cue to leave then," Toby said, getting to his feet with much less fuss. "I would help clean up, but I think there's a sayin' about too many cooks in the kitchen…?" They all turned to see the tiny counter space and single-basin sink.

"Yeah, definitely too many. 'Sides, you've been slacking on your fishing duties for the Fishery. Don't think I haven't noticed the lack of carp or catfish lately," Renee scolded, wagging her finger at him.

It reminded Evie so much of her first day in Castanet, that first afternoon she'd met them, that it had her chuckling as nostalgia warmed her chest. While she watched Toby cringe his way back into his still damp overcoat and Renee collect their plates, Evie gnawed on her bottom lip. She dropped her own dishes back to the table, the utensils clattering loud enough to set her teeth on edge, but she ignored it, and Renee's soft exclamation, to snag Toby's arm.

"You come with me, just one second. I'll be right back!" Evie promised to Renee, who stared, befuddled, and then nodded. Evie dragged an unprotesting, and vaguely amused-looking, Toby to the bathroom. Renee was back to calmly rinsing off her plate when Evie snapped the door shut. Toby stood in the middle of the bathroom still damp from her earlier shower, with both his eyebrows raised and the side of his mouth curling up.

"I don't think this gives us quite the privacy you're hopin' for, Evelyn," he said. Evie let out a huff of air, rolling her eyes as she slumped back against the door.

"I know that, but Rey gets it. And…" Evie crossed her arms over her chest and glanced away. Her tongue was wrapped in knots and a sick, grey stickiness was curdling low in her gut. There were words trapped in her throat, fluttering like moths blinded by the porch light.

I'm sorry.

I know I said that wrong.

I know I have feelings for you, and you do for me, and what I said, what I'm not saying, it's starting to hurt.

I made a promise to a fairy to save your town and the fairy your town calls a goddess calls me her hero and I'm about to go out of my mind with the pressure despite everything going right.

None of that matters 'cuz I'm a coward. And I'm scared. Scared of going back and scared of staying.

I'm sorry.

"Go fishing with me."

She stared at her boots as Toby made a small noise of confusion.

"Pardon?" he asked, tone bewildered.

She glanced up and barely managed to pry away an arm from her defensive posture to rub at the back of her neck. "Yeah, um. Tomorrow I have to go to Toucan. I kinda made, well, I got conned into a promise for Selena, and I still haven't done it yet," Evie rambled, neck and cheeks and even her ears hot. "Since I gotta go to Toucan, why not spend the day fishing? It'll be pouring rain for the next couple days, right? Probably?"

"That's… normally how it goes, yes. We'll probably see another squall or two before summer's done, too," Toby agreed, somewhat cautiously. He smiled though, that slow easy smile that had the sick grey feeling burning away into something warmer and softer. "I'd love to spend the day fishin' with you."

"Yeah?" Evie said, a little breathily. She flushed hotter and ducked her head. "Those seawater fish are worth a lot more than catfish and smelt, so it'd help make up those lost crops. The weather'll be nicer over there, too."

"Sounds like you don't even need me to come along," Toby said, teasing and light.

Evie quickly shook her head. "No, I… could go mining, or go by myself. I want you to come. If Ozzie won't kill me, or you."

"I work at a Fishery. Going fishing is the job," Toby said. He stepped closer, one hand rising to touch her cheek. The gentle, romantic, and so utterly Toby touch had Evie sighing in relief, whole body sagging against the door. "I know you don't have to invite me along. I'm glad you are, that you're choosing to spend that time with me. I've been wantin' time alone with you."

"You don't think you have enough alone time with me in my house," Evie asked, trying to raise an eyebrow and failing with a strange contortion of brows that had Toby's mouth twitching.

"I don't think that counts as much as I once thought it did," he said, with a strangely wry tone to his voice. Evie stared at him, blinking a couple times too quickly.

"What in the sassafrass does that mean?"

"Nothing." He shook his head. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow," he said instead. He closed the distance between them to brush his lips over hers.

The memory of that sick grey feeling, that lingering anxiety over that blank façade he'd had during and after that argument, had Evie reaching out. She threw both arms over his shoulders and pressed up against him, his cold and damp coat bedamned, to slant her mouth over his and get lost for a long, blissful minute in a real kiss. The hitching of his breath and the immediate eager response of his mouth had her simultaneously triumphant and giddy. The grip of his arms around her waist told her he'd already forgiven her stupid thoughtlessness and, for a moment, she let him soften the pace again. Languid, slow kisses that tore the foundation out from under her feet. Their lips broke apart with barely a sound, breaths heavy and low, and eyes closed. Letting her arms fall away and stepping back was a wrench she hadn't quite expected.

She really should stop being surprised by anything to do with Toby Fisher.

"T-tomorrow?" she said, still a little breathless.

He nodded, his cheeks as pink as hers felt. "Meet at the Fishery?"

"Yeah, that's… that sounds good." Evie finally pushed open the door and stepped out. Only for Finn to buzz right into her space, making her step back into Toby's chest as she spluttered.

"Why did you take so long in there!? We have to go go GO!" Finn exclaimed.

Toby's hands clasped her arms before she could fall to her ass. "Watch your step, Evvy."

"Is… is everything all right?" Renee asked, soapy sponge in one hand and a small frown creasing her forehead.

"A-okay!" Evie said, giving Renee two thumbs-up. "Just a talk about plans for tomorrow. We're good. Right?" She craned her neck slightly to look over at Toby.

Who merely smiled that smirky-foxy way he did. "Right. If you wanna go night-fishin', Rey, come find me. I'll be out and about."

Renee and Toby exchanged a strangely loaded look that had Evie glancing between them in confusion while gathering her dishes from the table.

"Yeah, Toby, that's a good idea," Renee said quietly, her eyes on her soapy hands.

Toby left just moments after that, leaving Renee and Evie to finish cleaning up the dishes and counter space. They weren't exactly slow about it, but they weren't rushing either, discussing which flavors of ice cream they had the ingredients for and trying to narrow down to just three. (Evie had to whisper to the side that Finn could share with her when he almost cried at the thought he wouldn't have any for himself.) Evie packed the things they'd need to make the ice cream and got her slicker and rainboots on. While Renee did the same, Evie tucked Finn into the breast pocket of her work shirt and buttoned the slicker up to her throat. Finn's quiet squeak of 'okay, I'm ready!' came just as Renee got to her feet and put on her bright yellow hat.

"Luke said he'd be back after lunch sometime, so I'll leave the lights on," Evie said as she slung her pack on.

"We won't be able to talk much without soaking ourselves through. Just go straight for Horn Ranch?"

"You got it," Evie agreed, finger-gunning awkwardly. Renee smiled and nodded.

...

Fugue Forest during a storm was almost the same as Fugue Forest during a sunny, spring day. It was colder, wetter, and darker, but most of the wind remained outside the depths of the forest. It rattled the canopy above their heads and spatters of rain made their way down onto their unsuspecting heads, but that was mostly it. It was cold enough, though, that Evie swore she'd almost seen her breath a few times, and her glasses fogged up multiple times. She'd made it to Horn Ranch and then to the entrance of the forest without her glasses, but she did not relish the idea of wandering around this dark area with blurred vision. Thanks to the tight cluster of tall, old trees, she only had to wipe her lenses a few times.

Renee kept up a cheerful chatter the whole way, huffing and puffing over boulders and logs right along Evie. She would sit on a stump to the side, humming and swinging her muddy boots, while Evie chopped down an occasional tree or busted a boulder that blocked their path, but was quick to strike up a new conversation when they started forward again. It was nice. Easy. And it was almost as if that morning had never happened.

Which of course meant Evie got more on edge the deeper into the forest they got and the longer Renee didn't bring it up. After more than an hour of small talk, anecdotes of summer storms past and then the Ocean Festival coming soon, Evie finally gave up.

"This morning," Evie started, eyes straight ahead and axe propped on her shoulder, eerily like Luke.

"Evie, it's fine," Renee said kindly, her gaze warm and light when she met Evie's wary one. "I don't get exactly what you mean about feeling like you owe us for kindness, but that's 'cuz of where we come from. We only want you t'be happy here, but that doesn't mean what we want is more important than what you want."

"I don't know what I want!" Evie exclaimed, voice so loud it scratched her throat even as it quavered. Finn's chiming a short ways ahead of them cut off, then returned with a vengeance, his tiny glow rushing towards them. Evie sighed softly, shoulders slumping before Finn made it to her shoulder.

"What is it!? What's wrong?" Finn asked in confused worry, tiny hands patting her cheek.

"'m fine."

"Evie…" Renee reached down and grasped Evie's slack hand in both of hers. Their eyes met again and Renee gazed at her earnestly, eyes darting between Evie's and over her face. "No one expects anything from you, but to be yourself."

Evie laughed hollowly.

"No, listen to me. Whyever you came here, whyever you're stayin' instead of going back, the bad home, the terrible soil, the broken leg, the storms, all of it, you coulda given up and gone back t'the city and nobody woulda blamed you. We're a small town and we care 'bout the people that live here like we're all family, yanno? We want you to stay, 'cuz we care about you. "

"Yeah… yeah, I've noticed," Evie agreed, croaking slightly.

"You stay or you go 'cuz it's what you want. Don't let what you think are our expectations make you do anything you don't wanna. You promise, Evie? Stay for you, not for us," Renee pleaded, hands too tight around Evie's.

"It's not as simple as that," Evie protested, throat dry and eyes darting towards Finn, but he was tucked under her chin and impossible to see.

"It is. It is a simple as that. Don't turn my home into something you regret. No one, I mean no one, wants you t'feel that way 'bout Castanet," Renee said. The emphasis on 'no one' was, for once, not lost on Evie. Her cheeks flamed bright red even as she nodded.

"I… I get it," Evie whispered. She sighed softly, every tense muscle loosening. "I didn't realize I needed to hear that. All I can think is how much, no matter what I do, I'm letting someone down. Me, my parents, all of you here…" Finn, the Harvest Goddess, the sprites. "I keep… I keep making choices and wondering too late if they're the right ones. I'm tired of doubting myself."

Renee threw her arms around Evie's neck, Finn just barely fluttering away in time. "You'll figger it out, Evie. I know you will. Just do what makes you happy."

Arms rose and locked around Renee's strong, thick waist. She smelled like rain and strawberries and the inside of barn all at once. Comforting and familiar after a whole season and more of being friends. The warm embrace had Evie smiling and ducking her head, the slick wet plastic of Renee's raincoat sliding over her cheek and temple.

"I am happy. Whenever I don't think about it, I'm so happy here, Rey. I can't imagine leaving."

"Good. Then, stop thinkin'!"

They chuckled, their arms tightening once more before they separated. Renee unabashedly rubbed at her wet eyes with her knuckles, while Evie sort of ducked her head again and wiped at her face with her wrist.

"We're– uh. We're almost there," Evie said after a second in a thick and rough voice.

"Good, I'm starvin' and I'm worried 'bout that ice cream. I don't think the cooler keeps it that cold," Renee said, looking down at the cooler hanging from one shoulder. Evie was pretty sure it was the same one Renee was gonna use for fishing… The Horns were so fastidiously neat about everything, it probably didn't even smell like fish anymore, but Evie eyed it suspiciously as she led the way through the small clearing she recognized from the one trip with Luke.

Weeks ago now. Whoa.

"Evie, are you really okay?" Finn asked, his dark eyes serious as he fluttered up next to her. Evie smiled at him and nodded. He didn't immediately smile back, just frowned a little and fell back to her shoulder out of her peripheral vision.

She couldn't think of a way to comfort him without Renee noticing. She was still wracking her brains as she stepped through the break in trees and…

Straight into summer.

But not the summer outside Fugue Forest, with the wild squall and sheets of rain. No, it was exact same as the two other times Evie had come. A spot of sunshine and muggy heat in the middle of a cold, dark labyrinth. Smoke trickled from the chimney now, and lights blazed in the windows. Animals scurried over the peat-yard and mushrooms clustered like flowers over the ground. The whole swamp teemed with life in a way it hadn't before, when the Witch Princess had been trapped in a frog body and gloom had gathered over the whole place even as the sun had shined.

Renee gasped in awe and clasped Evie's hand, leaning close enough for her hat to drip water down Evie's collar. She ignored it, too amused by Renee's shock– amused mainly by how much it reminded her of herself and Luke with less fear– and headed over the little bridge towards the swamp island. A turtle ambled placidly past as they stepped onto the peat, the ground squelching under their boots. A cute brown weasel ran past, stopping to sniff at them, and then scampering off like a real-life Rikki Tikki Tavi that had Evie trying not to snicker. A weasel wasn't a mongoose, but it was close enough for her. She'd never be able to think of it as anything other than Rikki Tikki now. Hopefully, it wasn't the Witch Princess's pet.

When they got to the door, Renee's grasp became so tight Evie swore it cut off circulation, before she quickly let go and straightened her shoulders.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"She's not that bad. I'm sure knocking instead of barging in will help a lot," Evie said encouragingly.

"And the ice cream! Everyone loves ice cream!" Finn agreed cheerfully.

Evie, despite her own words, took a small bracing gulp and knocked briskly. There was a clatter and the muffled sound of words– that sounded like they could be R-rated and Evie had to hold back the urge to cover Finn's ears. Loud, angry stamping echoed through the little house before the door swung inward sharply. Renee eeped and jumped back, but Evie held herself in place with a blinding grin.

A familiar, amber-eyed glare greeted her.

"You again," the Witch Princess hissed, eyes narrowed to slits. Like a furious cat.

"Me again! I'm Evie, in case you missed it before. And this is my friend, Renee. Renee Horn. I bet you know the Horns, right?" Evie introduced. Renee waved weakly.

The Witch Princess's eyebrow rose, pointed nose rising haughtily with it. "Ranchers. Been ranchers for generations. Of course I remember the latest ones. They were disgustingly besotted when they were courting."

"They still are," Renee blurted, quickly covering her mouth with her hands.

The admittance seemed to amuse the Witch Princess rather than annoy her. Something flittered across her face, eyes warm like butterbeer now. The comparison in Evie's head had her barely fighting back a smile. The Witch Princess seemed to shake away whatever nostalgia she'd fallen into and sniffed, returning abruptly to her aloof demeanor.

"You better be here to get rid of that ridiculous hippopotamus that's scaring the turtle, or else you're trespassing," the Witch Princess stated with clipped syllables.

"Did you say hippopotamus?" Evie repeated incredulously.

"Did she mean Humphrey?" Finn shrilled.

"Is the turtle… your pet?" Renee asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I don't care about its name, and no," Vivi said, eyeballing each of them in turn as she answered their questions. Finn eeped and darted behind Evie's head at her sharp look directly at him. "What do you want? To gawk? To taunt me about my predicament?" she asked, glaring sharply at Evie.

She raised her hands in supplication. "No, of course not! I only ever tried to help, and I can totally do something about that hippo, too. I didn't tell anyone, either, about the… predicament."

"It's true. I have no idea what you're talkin' about," Renee agreed fervently.

The Witch Princess's mouth twitched. "Is that so." She propped her fists on her hips. "So what do you want? You still haven't answered me."

"Ice cream!" Renee gasped, holding up her cooler.

That haughty facade broke as bewilderment colored the Witch Princess's features.

"We brought ice cream. To eat together. Now that you're… er… home, maybe you'd like some company?" Evie said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Bright orange eyes blinked rapidly as pink tinged ivory-fair cheeks. She looked away, one hand covering her perfect mouth, lashes fanning over her cheeks. She looked like a fragile, beautiful doll framed by her almost too short doorway and the bright hallway behind her.

"Hmm, what kind of ice cream?" she asked at last. The image disappeared and she just looked judgmental and unimpressed as she looked them up and down.

Evie grinned and shrugged. "A couple of 'em. You can pick which you like best. Strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry."

The Witch Princess's eyes lit up greedily, hands already reaching forward before she caught herself and stepped back, door swinging wider open regally. "Fine. You can enter until I decide I'm tired of you. You'll leave the raspberry for me."

"Sounds perfect," Evie agreed, looking over to Renee who was grinning wide enough to break her jaw.

With the lights on and the dust gone, the Witch Princess's house was even lovelier than Evie remembered. It was small, but cozy, every inch of the walls filled with pretty knickknacks and beautiful– if old-fashioned– furniture. The linens were sumptuous and shiny, the rugs thick and deep under their socked feet. Their coats and boots they'd left on the porch, where there were conveniently placed hooks that Evie could've sworn weren't there before she'd looked at them. The Witch Princess waved a hand and the chairs around her table wobbled and shook in place. She glared at them, huffing when they all but shot out from under the table, almost barreling into the walls or furniture.

"It's all right! We can get them!" Renee said quickly.

"That was magic! Real magic! Like Mother's!" Finn gasped.

"Of course it's real magic, baby face," the Witch Princess snapped at him.

"Um, excuse me?" Renee asked in confusion while righting one of the chairs. Evie busied herself with the other two to keep her face hidden.

"I'm talking to the fairy," the Witch Princess said in a very bored and blasé tone.

Renee blinked. "Of course."

"Would you like some tea or… coffee… with the ice cream?" the Witch Princess asked, nose wrinkling at the very mention of coffee. Despite mentioning it herself.

"Tea, tea is fine," Evie said.

"Yes, I do like a good tea. Especially milk tea. Or strawberry milk, but you're not taking requests, I was just babbling," Renee said, hands wringing.

The Witch Princess blinked and looked absolutely charmed by Renee's nervous chatter. Not that it was surprising. Renee could charm a criminal into not… criminal-ing. Evie looked between them and pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. It looked as though the Witch Princess was preening at the still awed look on Renee's face.

"How about I make tea and you two start on the ice cream? I can make my way around a teapot," Evie suggested.

The Witch Princess frowned slightly. "I'm sure the hostess should take care of that," but she said it dubiously, looking towards the mess of her kitchen with an anxious frown.

"I got it," Evie said firmly. The Witch Princess settled into a chair with a relieved sigh.

"Thank goodness. I can't make head nor tails of that blasted stove," she confessed, cheeks a little pink.

"Oh! You don't just… magic the tea up?" Renee asked, waving a hand vaguely. Evie hurried to fill the tea kettle and put it on to boil, belly clenching tight around suppressed laughter.

"I used to be able to, just like that," she snapped her fingers as she said it. "After… a recent mishap, however, my magic's been even more haywire than usual. I can't even make a cup of decent tea. It keeps turning into coffee or just plain hot water." She harrumphed as she said it, arms crossing over her chest. "I just need to shake away the cobwebs, I'm sure of it."

Or just the webbing, Evie thought to herself, biting her lip to keep from giggling.

"You… girl. Evie. What was it Gale said your name was?"

Evie stared at her. "Evie?"

"No, not that name. I thought you weren't a complete imbecile," the Witch Princess said in disdain. "Your family name."

"Oh! Oh, I'm Evelyn Tallesin. Or, actually Fuentes-Tallesin. But I stopped using Fuentes a few years back, when I got into uni. I mean, university," Evie blurted quickly, cups clattering onto the tray she'd found.

The Witch Princess's mouth pursed into a small, curious moue. Then, she shrugged expansively. "I suppose it's not too surprising. It's not quite as on the nose as Pendragon, but then again, fae doesn't run thick enough down the Pendragon line."

"I'm sorry, I think I'm missing something?" Renee said, head tilting to the side.

"You're talking about fae, too?! Evie doesn't look like a fairy," Finn said, almost irritably. "Where are her wings?"

Evie actually laughed out loud, making Renee even more bewildered and the Witch Princess smirk. "Pendragons and Merlins. Everyone keeps talking about how Arthurian my last name is, but my father's family left Wales decades ago. Whatever King Arthur nonsense is in my family tree, it's been watered down to nothing."

"King Arthur? That's right, Arthur's last name was Pendragon, wasn't it?" Renee realized in surprise.

"That's one myth. Of a very contested mythological figure. Everyone in UK and France thinks they're related in some way to Arthur," Evie said while wiping out the teacups with a clean cloth she'd found. It was covered in tiny purple butterflies, and the cups decorated in sprays of purple violets. It was obvious what the Witch Princess's favorite color was.

"Knowledgeable enough for this age," the Witch Princess noted, still smirking.

The teakettle steamed and Evie carefully poured the boiling water into the teapot. She used a strainer and a few spoonfuls of dried tea leaves, and then brought the tray over as the tea steeped.

"I was a Classics major, dabbled in Old English classes before focusing solely on Greek and Roman mythology and culture," Evie said with just as blasé a shrug as the Witch Princess had shown. "I loved Robin Hood and King Arthur as a kid. Lots of books handed down through my father's generations. Someone up the tree really liked them and the family kept adding more over the years. All families had some kind of tradition." The last bit came out a little defensively as she handed out the cups to each of them.

"It's true. Castanet is sorta built on traditions and passin' things down. The ranch has been passed down the Horn family since Castanet was first founded, years and years ago," Renee said, bending down to get the ice cream out of the cooler by her feet. The Witch Princess's eyes lit up in that greedy, hungry way again as she grabbed her cup of raspberry sorbet. "Sorry, it's a little melted."

"It's perfect!" the Witch Princess moaned around the spoon already in her mouth.

"Um… do you want us to call you Witch Princess? I'm pretty sure I heard the Wizard say your name, but…" Evie trailed off awkwardly. The Witch Princess slowly slid the spoon from her mouth, eyes thoughtful and piercing at once.

"No one's called me by my name in 80 years, except for that damn wizard," she replied, voice a little harsh when speaking of him. "If… If you'd like to…"

"Yes! Yes, I would love to get to know you and be friends!" Renee exclaimed, leaning forward and almost tipping her strawberry ice cream onto the table.

The Witch Princess blushed pink and cute. She shoved in another mouthful of raspberry sorbet, scowling even as the pink turned red. "Fine. Don't need to be that excited. It's Vivi. Just Vivi."

"How cute!" Renee squealed, hands to her cheeks.

"So cute," Evie agreed, grinning. "I thought that, too, when I first heard him say it."

"Thank you. For asking first," the Witch… Vivi said, eyes averted.

"But, Evie, we have a reason why we came that isn't ice cream!" Finn spoke up. With a face covered in blackberry sorbet. Evie snickered and pushing the napkin near her hand closer to him.

Vivi looked to Finn, and then back up to Evie. "A reason? What did you come here for?"

"Definitely for ice cream and conversation. I invited Renee, too, 'cause I thought you might like it. You're so way out of the way, I thought maybe you might get lonely…?" Evie said quickly.

Vivi tried to glare, but it looked more like a pout. "I do not get lonely."

"I always wanted to meet you, really. I was just never brave enough t'come alone. I thought for sure you'd want nothin' to do with us Castanet folks," Renee said. Vivi blinked over at her. "I didn't want you to feel like I came just to gawk at you, either."

"Hmmm… It's true I stopped spending time in Castanet after…" She broke off and looked away. "I appreciate your discretion. Unlike that stupid, blundering boy you brought with you," Vivi said, looking back at Evie.

Evie grinned awkwardly. "Yeah, he mentioned the pots incident a couple years back."

"Luke?" Renee asked with a wry smirk. Evie lifted her hands and shrugged. Renee giggled.

"But… there was something I was supposed to ask about. Renee's parents, actually, they're the ones that told me you might have it."

"The Green Bell," Renee gasped, spoon sagging in the air. "You're really looking for that?"

"Yes, of course. I wasn't kidding about how much I like myths and legends and stuff. Doesn't seem right for that Frame to be empty, without its Bell. I just wanna… fix it." Evie fidgeted uneasily in her chairs, eyes only on the teapot as she started pouring for everyone. The aroma of freshly steeped tea filled the little house.

Whatever might've been on Vivi's mind– or face– Evie had no clue. By the time she managed to raise her eyes, Vivi was blissfully eating another spoonful of sorbet.

"I might have it."

"Really!?" Finn said, dropping the too-big spoon into the mostly-empty ice cream bowl.

"I might've tried to figure out how to make it Ring and… had a bit of an accident. It should still be here, in that mess," Vivi said, jerking her chin towards the kitchen.

"We can help you find it! Didn't you know? The Bells have been Ringing all spring! I'm sure if we put it back, it will Ring, too!" Renee said happily.

"Ringing, are they?" Vivi said, a sly look in Evie's direction. "How… fortuitous for you, Evelyn Fuentes-Tallesin."

"What's… what's that supposed to mean?" Evie asked, mouth dry and throat clicking.

Vivi took another bite, relishing it slowly. Finally, as Renee and Finn leaned closer and Evie leaned back with shoulders curling inward, Vivi added, "Only that this land has been dying for the past 80 years. Lucky for you, the Bells are Ringing and bringing the life back, or you'd turn right back around and leave like everyone else."

"You don't know Evie!" Renee burst out. Vivi blinked over her spoon-filled mouth. "You don't know how hard she works! How cheerful and optimistic she is! How important she's been to Castanet. Don't say she'd give up for just any reason. Bells Ringing have nothing to do with her stayin'!"

"Rey…" Evie whispered, whole body tense but a softly incredulous smile on her face.

Vivi smirked mysteriously. "I think you've got it the other way around, sweetie." She almost purred the words and ice dripped down Evie's spine. Of course Vivi would know exactly what Evie was up to, but would Vivi truly say it? Right then and there?! What would she gain from it? Why did she really take that Green Bell and would she really give it back without a fuss?

Evie's hands were curled around the seat of her chair. Slowly, she unclenched her hands one finger at a time, and lifted her cup of tea to her mouth. Just as slowly and calmly, she set her teacup down. "I made a promise today."

Renee, Finn, and Vivi turned to look at her. Renee and Finn looked a little upset, Finn's eyes shiny and Renee flushed, but Vivi just looked intrigued.

"I made a promise that I would stay because I want to. That the only expectations I should think of are the expectations I make of myself, and how they make me happy. I'm staying in Castanet, and I bought Serenity, because it's what I want. Because I feel like it's the right thing to do, even when everything else is complicated and scary, staying, for now, is the right thing to do."

Vivi just looked at her, contemplative and stoic. She set down her spoon and got to her feet. "A green one, you said?"

Finn's wing trilled so loudly even Renee glanced his direction, baffled. Evie grinned widely.

"Yeah, the Green one."

"I'm sure I'll find it. You'll stay for lunch after, of course," Vivi said, looking over her shoulder. She looked arrogant, and her tone was demanding, but her eyes were soft and almost… worried.

"I wouldn't dream of leaving," Evie agreed.

"I would love to stay, too," Renee said, glancing between the witch and Evie, curious and pensive.

"It's a party!" Vivi said, laughing almost shrilly.

The resulting clatter and crashing of her search for the Green Bell had Evie barely choking back snickers as Renee polished off the last soupy dregs of her ice cream. Vivi muttered to herself as she threw random green objects out of the kitchen into the dining/living area. Renee and Evie just exchanged looks and grins while Finn darted over the objects lying on the ground.

...

As Evie slogged her way through the storm, hours and hours later, the heavy weight of the Green Bell sat on her spine. After lunch, Renee and Evie had left the Witch Princess's house reluctantly. Renee probably would've stayed all day if Vivi herself hadn't shooed them away with words of needing her 'solitude to recover from their barging in'. She did wring out a promise for more raspberry sorbet and lunch together again, soon. Not that she had to wring it out of them. Despite her blowing hot and cold, snooty and friendly, like an over the top tsundere anime character, Evie had actually enjoyed herself. Renee had been still in raptures when she'd left Evie in the forest to chop down the remaining wood she'd need for her house renovations.

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, Luke never showed up to do any chopping of his own. They'd had to re-set power lines all day, or whatever they were doing to get the electricity back, and then Luke had promised to immediately go back to her house for the patch job. Maybe he'd be there and she could tell him about Vivi and how she was maybe just one more afternoon of hard work away from getting enough lumber. Depending on how long the storm lasted, maybe she'd be ready when it cleared.

She shoved her bangs out of her face, blinking through the blur to try and see where she was. She could just barely make out the curve in the road and the hillside leading to her property.

To Serenity and home.

She shivered a little harder and then kept going forward. A part of her was remembering another promise she made, and just how she'd spend all of the next day. Fishing and relaxing in sunny Toucan with Toby. A part of her grated at the idea of waiting to get that lumber collecting finished, another grated at the idea of waiting for who knows how long before she could Ring the Green Bell and wake up Dara.

But most of her was looking forward to it. There was a fist of caught air in her throat, making it hard to breathe, but there was a warmth in the pit of her stomach, too. Warmth at the image of sitting next to Toby, whiling away an entire day waiting for fish to bite as the sun beat down on her bare legs and face. She'd always enjoyed summer more than fall, sunny days over rainy days.

She couldn't help but think how they'd be alone, though. How there were so many words she wasn't yet ready to say, but were seconds away from bursting out of her anyway. She could barely admit to herself how long she wanted to stay in Castanet. Every day she woke up wondering just how much longer until she could go back to her real life. She couldn't stay in this pudunk town forever. And her stupid, irresponsible feelings were trying to get her to say something she wasn't ready to admit. Guilt warred with pleasure every time they were alone, and honestly, it would be better for both of them if she could just…

Stop.

She clutched her slicker, hands trembling and holding on too tight over her stomach. Rain lashed at her face and wind cut at her shins, but she stared at her front door as she stood silent and still, wondering how she'd managed to get there already.

Renee said I should just try to be happy. Why am I trying to ruin something that makes me happy?

The door opened, light spilling over her little stoop, and Luke squinted at her.

"Dude, are you trying to get blown away or somethun? Get in here."

"Luke," Evie exhaled, laughing in relief.

"Yeah, and Candy's here, too. She brought dinner!" He grabbed Evie's arm and hauled her inside. Candace was already there, helping Evie out of her raincoat as Luke closed the door.

Evie laughed even harder at the irony of a free dinner, damp, wet nose stinging at the warmth filling her shack of a house that no longer dripped. A towel fell over her head and a blanket, dry and woolen, wrapped around her shoulders. She let her two closest friends smother and cluck over her like worried hens.

"I'm okay, really! You didn't have to. Either of you," Evie said, holding close the blanket Candace had clearly brought with her and shaking all over from the exuberance Luke used while drying her hair. "But thanks."

"Of course we didn't have to, but I just knew you'd come home like this," Candace said, a soft hand touching Evie's cold cheek.

"And I was finishin' up your roof. It took forever to fix up the lines over Harmonica, and then a tree branch fell on Hamilton's house. We'd told 'im a thousand times he was letting that old thing sit too long. Anyway. Candy showed up and I invited m'self for dinner."

"I made enough. You're always welcome. I-If Evie's a-all right with that?" Candace asked quickly, cheeks flushing. Luke's cheeks were just as pink and Evie ducked her head to laugh at both of them.

"Yeah, of course. Spoil me rotten, please," Evie joked with an eyeroll, letting Luke drag her towards the dining table. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

"That we can do, princess," Luke teased, rubbing her head one more time and throwing the towel at the pile of wet towels by her bathroom. "Why would you wanna beat us outta being your friends? We're awesome!"

"Do you want to shower or change first?" Candace asked as she hurried from the kitchen counter with a large porcelain dish. She had to use oven mitts, which promised the food inside was probably still hot.

"Nah, lemme just change into some dry socks. The rest of me is fine, as long as I can keep the blanket," Evie said, toeing her rainboots off.

"Of course. It's yours," Candace said, smiling happily. "I've gots dozens in storage. I'm glad you l-like it…"

"I'll get the blueberry juice!" Luke said, leaping towards the fridge.

"I might not have any!" Evie warned, tossing her wet, muddy boots towards the door. The bangs had Finn peeking out of her pocket blearily.

"We're home?"

"Yup," she whispered, dragging off her socks.

"Smells good," he slurred, nose twitching. Evie nodded and then straightened abruptly.

"You bake a lot, right, Candy?"

Candace kept her eyes lowered on her hands as she took off her mitts. "A little."

"What about pizza?" Evie asked curiously. Candace stared at her, nonplussed.

"I… I've never made pizza… It's not exactly baking?"

Luke slumped into a chair and dropped a bottle of blueberry juice on the table. "Why not? It goes in the oven."

"It's… I just… I like sweet things…" Candace admitted, blushing to her ears. Luke and Evie laughed aloud.

"It's fine, I can figure it out."

"You could ask me," Luke said, smirking at her. Evie's eyebrows jumped up.

"Feeling left out?"

"No, just totes offended. 'Cuz I can make a pizza. I can't make the bread part, I always just buy that from Yolanda, but I can do the rest," Luke told her, looking smug.

"I can do the crust. It's just p-pie dough," Candace said quickly.

"We make an awesome pizza-making team, Candy." Luke reached over to hug her shoulders, jostling her in place as she dropped her head to hide the tomato-red blush on her face.

Dinner was mushroom doria, which Luke picked at mulishly at first, until Candace noticed. He then shovelled it down and asked for seconds while Evie hid her snickers in her glass of blueberry juice, which she did still have a few glasses left of from Luke's birthday party. They ended the night watching Netflix Marvel shows, taking turns shielding Candace's eyes at the goriest parts and tossing popcorn at each other during the romantic-y parts, not that there were too many. Finn passed out before the first episodes even ended, and his twinkling little snores during the deadly serious or painfully quiet scenes almost ruined it for Evie, whom could barely keep from cracking up. Candace endured most of their faux-mothering with sighs and soft giggles until she fell asleep on Evie's shoulder. Obviously 'The Punisher' was not Candace's style. Luke made up a bed on the floor like he'd done before, ignoring Evie's sleepy protests with telling glances towards Candace.

Evie fell asleep with a fairy snoring in one ear, Candace curled up like a cat on the other side, and Luke tossing and turning before passing out like a child stretched out over the makeshift padding of sheets on the floor.

Just as sleep weighed down her limbs and her eyes became too heavy to lift, she thought for a single moment: Would it be so hard to stay forever?


A/N: So, we're updating a little early this month. I'm working two jobs right now, both 9 hours a day, because I'm INTERNING. (At 29. Wow.) I won't be an English teacher much longer; I'm moving into editing Chinese stories to be put on a news website! I might even be able to write my own or appear in little facebook videos with coworkers. (This newspaper/webpaper is one of the few chosen to "represent" China globally, so they have accounts on several social media accounts.) It sounds much more exciting than it is IRL, but it's EDITING. AIYYEEEE! I'm so excited! Real, actual, copyediting experience! But, it's a full 19 days of nonstop working (if you include the 5 days I work before the internship started. and I do.), while also having a life. I've barely made it through the first round and I'm dying. So, the next update won't be until April. Just to give me some breathing room (especially since I got into a new fandom and the plotbunnies are drowning me from every direction). Since this was ready, I decided I'd give you an early update here. :) Enjoy the shipping, I'm sure you'll be excited for thenext chapter, you Toby lovers.

Next Update: 4/11/18