Sunlight poured in through the window. It was already sweltering hot now that the summer squalls had stopped. A heavy humidity had weighed down her muscles during her morning chores and afterwards she stood at her window, sweating and sipping at cool well-water as she watched her little flock of livestock and poultry wander about her property. She hadn't been able to buy a goat-kid yet, because they had been still too young to leave their nannies, but Renee had promised just a few more weeks. Maybe not before Fall, unfortunately. Finn was perched on the narrow windowsill, swinging his teeny feet and munching on his favorite fresh raspberries.

The Ocean Festival was the next day and Evie was slowly relaxing into the idea that perhaps Cris had sounded a false alarm. She hadn't heard a single peep from her in days after all. Resolving to send an email that night, Evie fought down the slight urge of disappointment. Not about Casey, no about Cris. She really could've used Cristina's no-nonsense and polite approach to meeting people. She knew how to play nice and polite without being a nosey busybody, a line Evie jumped over a lot.

Casey is even better at being friendly... Evie physically swiped at the air in front of her face to wave the thought away.

"Evie?" Finn asked curiously.

"Nothing, just thinking. Let's head out," Evie said quickly.

She turned and paused, fists on her hips, to glance once more at her completed renovations. It hadn't taken her long to get the last bit of cash brought in, and the Carpenters had come down and finished up in just two days. This was the first day she hadn't been woken by Luke's loud morning whistling/singing. She knew for a fact (thanks to Finn) that her animals were more than pleased to wander freely again and not be scared of the pounding and banging while they stayed cooped up in their respective buildings. It wasn't very different; she didn't even have a second room yet. But the roof was sound, the wooden walls and shingles freshly painted, and the windows newly fitted and bright. Inside the counters were longer, the main room more spacious, and all the old water-damage and crappy wall-paper had disappeared. Her walls were woefully blank, since she hadn't paid for new interior decorations, but at least everything looked...

... less like she was squatting in an abandoned shack. Plus! Luke had convinced his dad to include a bathroom upgrade. She had a real tub and decent water pressure now!

"Whatcha smiling at, Evie?" Finn asked, interrupting her reverie again. "You're really weird today."

"It's nothing, Twinkletoes. Sorry. We've got a lot of mining to do today," Evie said with a shake of her head and rueful grin.

"Mining!? Again!?" Finn whined. "We've been mining forever."

"It's only been a few days. We'll spend the evening at Ocarina and Brass Bar to make up for it. I have some fresh cherry jam Maya and Luna are sure to love, and blue herbs for the doc, and Candace wanted to take my measurements before Fall, something about how she's worried how thin I've been looking," Evie said, rolling her eyes and grinning.

Finn eyed her critically, wings buzzing. "You look the same to me," he said decisively. "Maybe a little browner?" He tilted his head to the side and squinted.

Evie laughed and swung her rucksack up onto her shoulder. "Well, that's a relief. I'd hate it if you suddenly didn't recognize me."

"I'll always recognize you! You're my human," Finn declared happily.

A small flutter of warmth in the pit of her stomach had her giggling under her breath. "And you're my fairy."

The buzzing of Finn's wings grew louder as they set off. Her pace was quicker than usual with plans to see her friends well, and the people she was currently buttering-up as much as possible and feeling like a fraud. Sure, she liked all these people, but she felt like she was bribing people into confiding in her. But what else was she supposed to do? The Goddess, the Witch, and the Wizard all agreed that the best way to win their hearts' wishes was through gifts, something Evie tended to do anyway. Gale was even helping her out with his crystal ball when he could, a service he provided for free since she'd found it all those weeks ago.

She sighed and pressed the heel of her palm over her heart where the warm glow of Toby, Candace, and Luke's wishes still lay. She was selfishly holding onto them, scared to let go and forget what they felt like. Scared that if she forgot the feeling, she'd never figure out her own heart's wish. Nothing she believed in felt how their wishes did.

Her pace quickened even more, not quite running from her downward spiraling thoughts as much as knowing that pushing her physical limits would keep her from sinking back into depression. And also from making another stupid mistake like lashing out at her friends.

She made it to town, barely slowing to wave at the sleepy-eyed Kathy and the genially-smiling Candace chatting at the water's edge. Paolo's loud shout greeted her from the stone-docks, but she just charged up the slope towards the Clinic and shouted 'good morning' back. As had become the norm, a bright blue flash of light was darting around his shoulders. Inside, Irene was reading a magazine at the counter. She glanced up when Evie entered and the smile of welcome grew over her face.

"Coming by again so soon? We'll be stuffed to the rafters with herbs at this rate," Irene said in amusement.

"You think you'll be stuffed? I can't drink enough tea to get rid of it fast enough," Evie laughed, a little embarrassed as she swung her pack around. "Where's Dr. Wang?"

"He's in the other room with Anissa and their new patient."

Evie and Finn's eyes lit up. "Is it doing better?"

"Much better. You should visit while you still can," Irene said.

"Yeah! Let's visit!" Finn exclaimed, rushing into the other clinic room where the quiet murmur of voices sounded.

In the room, Jin sat at his desk and Anissa was leaning her hip against the side of it. They were both looking at the windowsill where an open shoebox rested in the early sunlight. Finn was already hovering over the box, talking animatedly to the small sparrow sitting inside and eagerly chirping back. Evie paused at the opening and knocked on the jamb, smiling awkwardly when both pairs of eyes turned to her.

"You're just in time," Anissa said, smiling that movie-perfect smile. "He started talking just seconds ago and hasn't calmed down yet."

"Perhaps it sees others of its kind outside," Jin suggested with eyes warm and focused on Anissa rather than the talkative bird or his guest.

"We know he's a he," Anissa said pointedly. "You can say it."

"I doubt birds care one way or another what gender pronouns we use for them," Jin pointed out, mouth twitching at the corner. Anissa huffed.

"It doesn't!" Finn said cheerfully before returning to his conversation with the little bird they'd saved just days ago.

"So... it's doing better? Irene talked like it's about to fly off any minute," Evie said, setting her pack on the ground and digging out the herbs. "For the clinic, by the way."

"Thank you, Ms. Tallesin. We're sure to never run out of stock with you to help us," Jin said sincerely, making Evie blush and rub the back of her neck.

"He is doing better. Luckily, it didn't seem like a broken wing. Perhaps he just got himself twisted around and sprained it? Rest and somewhere safe is all he needed," Anissa answered.

"I'm sure yours and the doctor's excellent attention helped," Evie said. She stepped over to the box and grinned as the bird and Finn looked up at her. "Doing all right here?" she asked softly.

"Yup! Says he'll be ready to fly tomorrow. It actually said it could today, but he likes all this fluffy soft stuff and wants to rest a little more," Finn said, giggling as he poked at the flax wool in the box. The sparrow shook all over and tweeted.

Hiding a small smile at the bird's innocent deception, Evie turned back around. "Thanks, really, for taking such good care of it. I know you're not a vet, but... thanks."

"Perhaps I don't have a degree in animal medicine, but I can help a bird get some rest while it heals," Jin said, somewhere between modest and amused.

"We used to have a vet living here, but nowadays we have to call one over from the next county. Thankfully Hanna and Cain can take care of most things," Anissa said with a sigh.

"And of course, you, too, Miss Anissa." Jin said with a fond smile up at her.

She lit up at the compliment even as she blushed a pretty, modest pink. "I didn't do much… and caused you a bit of trouble in the process…" she protested, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

It was all Evie could do to keep yet another grin hidden. A blind man could see the look these two shared and knew what it meant. She cleared her throat behind her fist, and Jin's face suddenly matched Anissa's.

"I better head out now, lots of mining to do. Thanks again for your care," Evie said.

The other two again assured her of how little trouble it was and to take care. She stopped long enough to buy some cold medicine and remedy, and for Finn to leave his new chirpy friend. He might've taken so long to prolong the inevitable trip into the watery depths of the Cave. But that would only be a guess.

Evie stepped out of the Watery Cave long hours later and threw her arms over her head. Finn was already rocketing out of her pocket to pinwheel through the evening air exuberantly, and she watched in amusement as she stretched her sore arms high over her head. Her limbs shook a little, but she wasn't half as weary as she looked covered with mud and patches of salt and glasses half-slid down her sweaty permanently-sunburnt nose. She checked her watch, fumbled with the button to light up the face of it, and then grimaced. It was almost half past eight and her animals would be dozing in the field by the time she got back at this rate, what with the few gifts in her bag she'd yet to give out.

"C'mon, Evie, let's go! I'm starving, that egg salad sandwich was ages ago," Finn pleaded, tugging at her shirt where he'd just perched on her shoulder.

"I know, Tinkers, just lemme give a quick hey to Candace and Luna and then Maya. Promise, we won't stay long at either place."

"Yeah, right. You talk a lot and Maya talks more," Finn mumbled. Evie chuckled and poked at his chubby little cheek near her chin.

"You're supposed to trust me, I'm your human, remember?"

Finn made a little grumbly-sound, but his wings trilled a little anyway. Evie pushed open the tailor shop door, surprised that the sign hadn't been flipped over to 'Closed' yet. Surprised until she saw Luke standing in the midst of all the clothes' racks and shelves, axe leaning against the side of his muddy boot, and Candace's attention wholly focused on him.

"It's really n-not necessary, Luke. It's just a l-little wobble, that's all," Candace was saying, wringing her hands.

"Luna already paid, Candy. You can't turn me down now. Doncha think I can make a table?" Luke asked, looking hurt and incredulous.

"O-Of course you can! B-but why m-make a whole new table when I just need one new leg?" Candace blurted, eyes darting everywhere in her fit of nerves. Just as Luke's mouth wrenched open, she caught sight of Evie and her whole face went red. "Oh! I didn't even hear you come in!"

"Eh?" Luke turned and broke into a wide grin. "It's Evie! You're lookin' roughed up. The Cave or Garmon?"

"The Cave," Evie said with an eyeroll and smirk. She set her rucksack on the ground with a groan and a loud, rattling thump. "I brought some fresh cherry jam for Luna. She around?"

"O-oh, no. She's at Brass Bar talking with Kathy about a new tablecloth. I'll put it away for her, she'll love it. She just finished off the last jar you gave her."

Evie handed over the jar into Candace's extended hands, and then plopped a thermos in Candace's hands, too. "The mint herbs are for you, Candy."

"Oh!" Candace blushed and smiled happily. "Let me just go put it in the tea tin. Will you stay and have a cup?"

"I've gotta run up to Ocarina and then head home before my animals get cranky being out so late. But thanks," Evie said. Candace nodded and rushed away, a quick look over her shoulder at Luke who wasn't quite frowning at her back.

"What's that all about?" Evie asked under her breath as she rolled her shoulders. Finn darted this way at that, ooh'ing and aah'ing over the bright, shiny new accessories on the stand. He seemed fascinated with the bright red ribbons and was giggling as he spun the spools.

Luke scratched his head and knocked his bandanna askew. "I dunno, actually. I came in to ask Candy how she wanted her new sewing table t'look and she got all flustered at me. Seems like Luna never tol' her about me gettin' paid to make it for her. I dunno why she's all… well, I guess she ain't mad, but she ain't thrilled 'bout it. You'd think she'd want something new?"

"Candace never wants anyone to make a fuss over her, or to spend money on her. She'll think it's a waste."

Luke snorted loudly but didn't argue. Evie barely managed to suppressed giggles at the affront on his face.

"Ain't a fuss if I like makin' it and it'll help her get work done," he grumbled. Candace walked back in with Evie's now-empty thermos and he pasted back on a grin. "You gonna invite me t'tea, or ya gonna kick me out now?"

"Wh-what? Kick you out? Why would I ever do that? I already put on some milk for hot cocoa, though. Would you prefer tea?" Candace asked with a dubious twist to her mouth.

"Definitely cocoa. You know me too good," Luke said. Candace met his eyes, fingers stilling where they'd been plucking at the hem of her cardigan.

"I'm glad I have gotten to know you so well," she said with a shy small smile curling over her lips. Luke's usually brash grin was just as wide, but somehow softer around the edges, gold eyes warm and awed as they met Candace's.

The door jangled open, but neither Luke nor Candace looked away from each other. Evie had to tear her eyes away, heart thudding painfully at both the new weight that burned there as well as embarrassment over seeing something so private between these two. Whatever reservations Evie might've had about Luke confessing to Candy were swiftly disappearing after this. In the doorway stood a irritated-looking Gill.

"Ah, so you are here. I'm glad I checked despite the late hour," he said apropos of nothing.

"Huh?" Evie blurted. Finn zoomed back to her shoulder and Gill bestowed the little fairy with an almost imperceptible wink. Finn giggled behind his hands.

"Oh! Mr. Goldstein?" Candace gasped, the earlier moment broken.

"He's not mayor yet, Candy. You don't gotta be that polite," Luke said, chuckling. Evie noticed that somehow the few feet of distance between them had shrunk to a few inches.

Gill rolled his eyes and looked towards the befuddled Evie. "I'm sure you heard that the ferry came in today from the mainland?"

"Uh, no? I was in the Watery Cave all day. Were you looking for me for something?" Evie asked with both eyebrows rising in confusion. "I'm not exactly a welcoming brigade?"

"Ah, that explains why it was impossible to find you. Not even Fisher knew," Gill sighed. Evie blushed to the roots of her hair as Luke snickered behind her. "You have visitors. The people on the ferry came for you."

"V-Visitors?" Evie gaped.

"Evie has visitors?" Luke blurted, just as bewildered as Evie. They exchanged an identical look.

"That's wonderful, Evie! Didn't you know someone was coming? Cassie or something? Or was it your friend, Cristina?" Candace reminded her with a clasp of her hands and a bright smile.

"C-Casey?" Evie whispered. For a moment, it felt as though all the blood in her body drained to her toes. She hadn't seen Casey in over a year, and it had been an emotional mess of a meeting. And now... he was really here? With other people? It could be Cristina but... Could her mother have come, too?

Luke's hand was suddenly on her shoulder, holding her up as her balance wobbled. "Whoa there, Eves. What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing, I have to go. Where are they?" Evie asked quickly.

"Ocarina Inn, of course," Gill answered promptly. "I recommended getting accommodations there since your home was undergoing some construction the past few days. Besides, I couldn't very well send strangers to your home without your permission," Gill said with a twist to his mouth. He narrowed his gaze on Evie's still pale face. "Would you prefer I tell them they are unwelcome? Your welfare is more important than potential revenue."

"Oh, Mr. G-Goldstein, that's really s-sweet!" Candace exclaimed in her quiet way.

"I'm with this guy, Evie, we'll tell 'em off for ya."

"Wh-what? No! No, I don't need that! It's just... I'm overreacting. I don't even know if..." Evie broke off and shook her head, laughing under her breath. "Anyway, I can't keep them waiting."

"All right, let's go!" Luke announced, hooking his arm around her neck and tugging her along towards the door. Gill moved neatly out of the way with a risen eyebrow.

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down!" Evie protested, laughing and flailing under his hold.

"Don't hurt yourselves!" Candace exclaimed, hovering behind them, but stopping at the door and wringing her hands.

"I'll come back for that cocoa, Candy, wait for me!"

"O-of course," Candace replied, bemused.

"You won't be going with them?" Gill asked incredulously. Candace shook her head.

"I could, but I'm sure Luke is more than enough. Besides, I have to watch the stove," Candace said absently, still watching Evie and Luke wibble-wobble their way down the road.

"Your sister isn't here?" Gill asked with an awkwardly stiff tone. Candace blinked and looked over at him. He was too fair and pale for even that light blush now on his face not to show. "T-to watch the stove?" he added quickly, clearing his throat.

"N-no, she's talking with Kathy," Candace said, slow and bemused.

Gill nodded absently, one hand rubbing over his mouth. "Ah…" A second later, he seemed to shake himself out of his thoughts. He smiled his pleasant, business smile at Candace. "Enjoy your evening, Ms. Candace."

"Um, yes. Y-you, too."

Gill briskly turned to the Town Hall, only glancing for a brief moment down the lane towards the wharf-docks. Candace pressed her fingertips to her lips in thought, then looked that way herself, watching as Luke and Evie turned the corner around and past Brass Bar.

...

Evie didn't even have a chance to pause at Ocarina's door. Luke burst through one step ahead of her. She heard the high-pitched squeal of a very excited Maya just before she took a deep breath and met dark-dark brown eyes.

"Evie!"

Evie's lips were already moving up into a wide, surprised grin as she blurted, "Cristina!"

They basically crashed together in the middle of Ocarina's dining room, both a little screechy and hugging each other tight. Cristina grumbled a little 'ow', but just squeezed Evie harder in response. They managed to extricate themselves, but only after it got weird that so many people were just hanging out around them watching them hug. Maya let out a little sound and rushed away in a whirl of pink, white, and carroty-blonde hair.

"Finally! Your loud blonde friend has been calling your house for an hour," Cristina scolded even as she looked Evie up and down. "How in the world do you look so much not like a total gringa? I've never seen you this brown."

"I work on a farm, Cris," Evie said with an eyeroll and a smirk. "I can't help it now. No hiding in the libraries."

"We don't even have a library for ya t'hide in," Luke piped in, grinning widely and forcing his way between them to shake Cristina's hand in his giant bear paw. "Hey, it's me, Luke! Evie's other best friend."

Cristina let him exuberantly shake most of her whole body with merely a raised eyebrow at Evie. "I remember you very well."

"Evie? Is this whole town calling you that, too, Lupe?"

Evie froze all over and looked past Cristina (who was grimacing a little in sympathy) to see Casey walk into the dining room. Maya was right behind him, eyes shining and actually hopping in place with giddiness. Casey looked exactly like he did a year ago auburn hair a mess, skin only a shade darker than her own, and eyes the same auburn shade as his hair. The shape of his nose, mouth, chin, eyes, and coloring all of it was the spitting image of her own but somehow slightly different. Only the style of his hair and his dark brown skin were really different. With all the summer work and resulting tan, she looked even more like him than she used to.

"Lupe?" Luke replied dumbfounded.

"You still going by Tallesin, too?" Casey asked, running his hand over his spiky, messy hair.

Evie scowled, and then huffed. "If you're just here to bi-bicker, then you can go right back home."

"Where's the fun in that? You know Mama sent me here to snoop."

"And you always were a Mama's boy," she sniped at him.

They glared each other down. Luke and Maya glanced from Evie to Casey, utterly baffled, while Cristina just groaned under her breath.

As usual, Casey broke first. He'd never quite had Evie's stubborn streak. He grinned wide and bright enough to give Luke a run for his money and stomped across the room to sweep Evie up in a hug. Despite being identical heights, he managed to lift her off her feet and she screeched in mock-rage.

"Arencha a little pleased to see me, hermanita?" Casey exclaimed, laughing and squeezing her hard enough for ribs to creak alarmingly.

"We're the same age, you idiot!" she gasped. She gave in and hugged him back, hard and brief, then began to squirm like an outraged cat again. "Put me down!"

"You… you are siblings, right?" Maya asked slowly.

"Look at 'em, Maya! A'course they are!" Luke said, hands gesticulating wildly.

Thankfully, Casey had put her back on her feet. She promptly shoved him away, blinking in surprise when he actually grunted and fell back a couple steps.

"But... why are you stayin' here? Shouldn't you both be stayin' at Serenity with Evie then?" Maya asked.

"Do you want to give us our money back?" Cristina asked with a smirk.

"Oh! Oh no! Please stay here!" Maya exclaimed, clasping her hands together and giving first Cristina and then Casey beseeching eyes.

"Honey, we don't beg for customers," Colleen admonished gently from behind the register. Maya blushed bright red and covered her cheeks with her hands.

"Don't worry, we're staying here. Cristina said Lupe's house is too small for us to stay at the whole time," Casey said quickly with a charming smile at Maya. Maya's eyes went immediately starry.

"No way am I sharing that crappy bed or sleeping on the floor," Cristina agreed.

"Oh good! That means I can stay with you!" Finn said on a relieved exhale from her shirt pocket just as Luke and Evie blurted out at the same time,

"Why are you callin' her Lupe?" "What do you mean the whole time?"

Luke's tone was merely curious, but Evie's eyes were narrowed into slits at her brother and Cristina and her tone matched her expression.

"We're staying for the rest of the summer!" Casey announced brightly.

"Actually, I'm only staying two weeks, sorry, Evie," Cristina corrected with yet another wince.

Evie glanced heavenward and groaned. Casey walked over, grabbed both her shoulders in his hands, and spun her towards the door.

"Okay, it's time for my super stealthy sleuthing. Let's go!" Casey announced.

"Say that three time fast," Cristina and Evie said wryly at the same time, then turned to exchange amused smirks.

"You'll come back tonight, though, right?" Maya asked as she trailed behind them, blue eyes bright and hopeful.

"Of course, Ms. Taverns," Casey assured her with a swift smile over his shoulder. She returned it happily.

"We should all meet at Brass tonight! Give ya a real Castanet welcome!" Luke

"That sounds great! Mama has us all still living at home on a curfew like we're still kids. Let's go wild," Casey said with a laugh, mussing up Evie's hair as she hissed 'stop that' like an angry cat.

"There is alcohol at the bar, right? It's not like some weird Amish dry county here, is it?" Cristina whispered. Evie snorted loudly.

"No, it's definitely not. Okay, now let's get going. We'll see y'all later tonight. Give me enough time to clean off," Evie told Maya and Luke.

"Yay!" Maya cheered, clapping her hands excitedly before rushing off to the phone.

"Y'all?" Casey repeated incredulously.

"You, Lucas or whatever, bring Mr. Foxface. Got it?" Cristina ordered with a finger pointed right at Luke's face.

"Me? Yeah, okay, I can do that!" Luke agreed with a swing of his fist and grinning at Evie's horrified expression. "You mean Toby, right? Evie's boyfriend?"

"He is not— We're gone. Right now!" Evie squeaked while all but throwing herself out the door.

"But let's get back to where you said y'all. You, the self-proclaimed Ravenclaw, said y'all," Casey repeated again as she led the way out of the town proper.

"Shut up, Case!"

"Next, she'll start calling it soda instead of pop!" Cristina teased. "Besides, we all know she's a Gryffindor."

"That's ridiculous. Of course it's pop." Evie said snootily. She sighed a second later in mock-resignation. "I stopped calling myself a Ravenclaw when Pottermore placed me in Gryffindor like five thousand times. It was really disheartening."

Finn poked his head out of her pocket while Cristina and Casey laughed. "I like Cris, but what am I supposed to do now? Do I have to go up to the Spring again? I wanna see a party and try alcohol. Is it like cake? I'm still hungry."

Evie rubbed her face with her muddy gloves and knocked her glasses everywhere, trying desperately not to laugh out loud. Or groan.

"What?"

Evie, Cristina, and even Finn glanced towards Casey in confusion. Casey was already looking at Evie, looking just as confused, but also expectant.

"What what?" Evie asked, baffled, glancing towards Cristina.

Casey glanced between the two young women and squinted suspiciously. "Are you guys having me on? Evie just said something."

"Huh?"

"I'm not having you on, under, or sideways. Can we get a move on?" Cristina retorted, gesturing towards the road. Casey groaned and trotted after them.

By the time the sandy road started slowly sloping upwards, it was fully dark. Only the bright summer moon overhead lit the ground in front of their feet. Soon enough the blazing porch light, as well as the lights from inside the barn and coop, joined the moonlight and she could see the shadows of her animals wandering among the grass and trees. Relief at the picturesque sight, a sight that just a few days ago would have been a shambling mess, had Evie sighing quietly. Yet one more reason to be glad of finally getting her head out of her butt and paying for those renovations, small though they were.

"There she is. Serenity Farm," Evie said with an embarrassed little wave towards the small group of buildings.

"... that's it? I thought it'd be some sort of shack, but that's actually nice! Small, but nice!" Cristina said with no small amount of pleased relief. Evie rubbed the back of her neck and carefully kept her expression blithe.

"For the price you paid? I was expecting the same thing," Casey agreed, looking almost impressed as they neared the outskirts of her plot near the bell.

Finn huffed irritably. "That's what is was. It's only this nice because of you. …and Luke's family, I guess." Evie chuckled softly.

"What was that?" Casey asked, staring at her again.

Evie rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about and, anyway, how would you know the price? Cris, what have you been gossiping about behind my back?"

Cristina waved a hand. "Oh, pretty much everything you ever told me."

"CRIS!"

"I said don't call me that," Cristina replied with an unrepentant smirk. "So you gonna let me pet that cow? Or the sheep? I thought sheep were fluffier than that?"

"I just sheared her yesterday, but no. It's bed time for them. If I leave 'em out any longer, they'll be cranky tomorrow. You can help me in the morning, though."

Cristina eyed the livestock critically as Evie reached up for the bell. "Are you going to make me milk them or something? Because that's too far, especially if we're getting up at the ass-crack of dawn."

Evie winced at the curse-word and hoped Finn wasn't paying attention. "I get up at, like, six. The sun is up and everything. It won't kill you to give it a try, Cristina."

"Whoa, you actually got plants to grow?" Casey interrupted, staring at the stands of corn grown high enough now to be over his head. The sunflowers just a few rows over were just as tall.

"Yup! I have help, though," Evie said with a quick smile down at Finn, who was giggling in her pocket.

"You really do have tomatoes. No bee hives?" Cristina asked, one eyebrow lifting.

Evie flushed hotly. "No beehives. Look, you guys can have a good look around, there's a hot spring back behind the barn and a pond over thattaways and then you can poke around inside my place. I need to jump in the shower, though, and put this load down. It's kinda killing my shoulders."

"Sure sure, I'm gonna go make nice with that ridiculously adorable black-faced sheep before it falls asleep," Cristina said, already jogging towards the barn.

"Don't you be rowdy with her! Clotho's super sensitive after a shearing!" Evie called after Cristina's back. She rolled her eyes at Casey and then walked towards her house, slipping the rucksack off one shoulder with a groan.

"Hey, wait, Lupe. Lupe! You know Cristina only went off so we can talk, slow down," Casey said, hurrying after her.

"I kinda wanna shower before I drop dead from exhaustion. I spent the whole day mining, okay? I also haven't had dinner yet."

"Mi-mining? Like… mining? For rocks?" Casey asked, eyes boggled.

"Yeah, basically," Evie agreed with a shrug, pushing open the door.

"He sounds like how I feel about mining. Let's just not go back in the Cave ever again," Finn said decisively as he jumped out of her pocket into midair.

"Lupe, you better not pretend like that's not you" Casey stopped dead, the door snapping shut on his heels, and his eyes glued to where Finn hovered in the air beside Evie's head.

Dead silence reigned except for the gentle chiming of Finn's wings.

"C-Can… he see me?" Finn squeaked at last.

"Auuugghhh!?" Casey hollered as he fell back against the door.

"Ahh!" Finn shrieked, darting behind Evie's head. "He sees me! He sees me, Evie!"

"What in the blessed name was-is that?" Casey blurted. "It was you. You were the one talking!"

Evie's heart thumped heavy and painful low in her chest, sinking almost down into her belly. She felt frozen, tongue numb and lips trapped between her gnawing teeth. All the blood in her body didn't just sink with her heart, no, it fled. Fast enough to make her feel dizzy with lightheadedness.

"He can definitely see you, Finn," she whispered.

Casey slowly took control of himself, that natural curiosity they both shared finally taking over. "Is that… an elf?"

"A what? What's an elf? Are you talking about me? I'm not an elf! I'm a Harvest Sprite!" Finn said, puffed up in offense and confusion.

That managed to snap Evie free and she rubbed her hands over her face. "I don't have time for this. No, he's not an elf, he's a fairy. And Finn, an elf is a lot like you, but no wings. Unless we're talking Tolkien and then they're nothing like you."

"Do toking elfs have wings?" Finn asked in confusion.

"Elves never have wings."

"Never have wings!?" Finn repeated, aghast. "I'm definitely not an elf!"

"Yeah, Case, don't be stupid. He's definitely not an elf," Evie said, mouth twitching in amusement. And maybe some measure of insanity.

"Oh, well, excuse friggin me, of course he's a fairy. I never got into that magic-y book stuff like you, so how would I know and what do you mean he's a fairy!?" Casey exclaimed, hands thrown up in the air. "What the hell is going on here, Lupe!?"

"Please don't cuss in front of the baby."

"What baby!?" Casey yelped.

"Finn, I meant Finn, calm your hiney down."

"Did you just say hiney?" "I'm not a baby!"

This time, Evie threw up her hands and groaned aloud. "Okay, everyone shut up. Cris is gonna wanna walk in any second, all my new friends will be waiting for us any minute, Finn and me are still starving, and I still need a shower. So, look, sit right there," Evie ordered with an imperious finger pointing towards the edge of her bed.

Casey shuffled over and sat down. He scrubbed his face in both hands and inhaled slowly, then exhaled with a loud huff. "Okay. What's going on?"

"I don't have time to get into details, so… this is Finn. Finn, this is my twin brother, Casey Fuentes."

"Why's he call you Lupe?"

"Her name is Guadalupe."

Evie rolled her eyes heavenward. "I started going by my middle name in high school. Shut up, Case."

"You really need to put that on a hat with how often you say it," Casey muttered.

They paused and their identical auburn eyes met. For a moment, it was actually like being in high school again. How many times had she said it, and how many times had he'd replied exactly like that? She'd almost forgotten some of their old jokes. She smiled a little, and he grinned at her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Okay, so Finn. The fairy, or Harvey Sprite-"

"Harvest!"

"Harvest Sprite, si." Casey and Finn looked at Evie.

She stripped off her rucksack, gloves, and bent down to untie her boots as she explained as succinctly as possible. By the time she'd finished putting away everything in her rucksack and grabbed her towel, she'd finished the bare minimum details of meeting Finn and the Harvest Goddess. Casey was sitting on the bed staring at her, speechless.

"You're… seriously trying to say… a fairy goddess told you it was your destiny to come here and be a hero? Because you can see fairies," Casey said slowly in overwhelming disbelief.

Evie's eyebrows rose up to her hairline and she gestured towards Finn. Finn was nodding vehemently at her shoulder.

"See! He gets it!"

"Yeah, sure. I get it," Casey said in a dazed sort of tone that belied his words.

Evie snorted quietly and shrugged. "All righty, since you get it, I'mma be in the shower."

"Me too! I wanna bath, too! I smell like a fish! And mud!"

Evie let Finn zip into the bathroom ahead of her, but before she could follow, Casey's hand wrapped around her arm. She looked back at him, confused and wary. Casey's hand slowly fell away from her bicep and his gaze was soft and earnest. When he spoke, he was using Spanish, something he was more comfortable with, but probably also to prevent little "elf" ears from overhearing.

"I know I gave you a rough time last year, and I came here fully expecting to rip you a new one. I needed to know what in the world you were thinking. Mama's been…" he trailed, as if unable to find the right words to explain just how their mother had reacted to the news of Evie dropping out of college with one semester left to go.

Evie winced and glanced away. "I can just imagine," she replied, in English.

She could listen and understand Spanish well enough, but she'd always felt more comfortable using English. Yet another way she'd distanced herself from her predominately Latino family and built a wall of resentment between her and her mother.

"I don't think you really can, Guadalupe," Casey said with a strange tone. It sounded… wry. Almost exasperated. Evie frowned at him. "Anyway, just… I don't really understand it. I've stopped being able to really understand you in primary school. But… I kinda do now… and I definitely want to understand you again like I used to. I just want us to be a family again, Lupe, instead of you always running off on us."

Evie's mouth pulled taut and her hands shook slightly. Rather than becoming more exasperated, or even that same fiercely angry he'd been when they duked it out two years ago, Casey just sounded sad.

"I know you hated it after a while, but I never did. I miss being your twin."

Evie's nose scrunched up and she finally glanced back at him. "Then look in the mirror, genius. We're always gonna be twins." She gave him a lopsided little smirk and he rolled his eyes at her.

"You know what I mean, little sister."

"It was four minutes. Now, shut up, Case. I gotta shower."

Casey chuckled, and this time didn't try to stop her from slipping into the bathroom and closing the door. She filled the sink with warm-almost-hot water for Finn— his preferred temperature— and then jumped into her new shower-tub and closed the curtain. Behind her protective shield of waterproof plastic and cloth, Evie dunked her head under the steaming hot water. Her hands pressed against her chest again, feeling the thump-thump of her heart and the echoing weight of the wishes she held. She barely noticed the slight bite of her jaggedly-gnawed down fingernails digging into her skin.


A/N: I didn't START the story (in 2016) with Evie as Latina (since it was very self-indulgent self-insert never gonna post this kinda deal), but before chapter 15 or so I decided that's where I wanted to go with her. I know a few people that were raised in Latinx homes and don't speak or understand much Spanish, and there are a myriad of reasons for this. Evie's experience (aka her choice) is NOT to supposed to be a representation of anyone I personally know or of those kinds of situations as a whole. Just to be sure it's clear: For the entirety of their private conversation at the end, Casey is speaking Spanish and she's responding in English. Casey's name is also a nickname, by the way.

Lastly, I am SO SORRY my hiatus went on so long and I returned with this filler omg. The next chapter (NOT the timestamp) is the one I WANTED to update with but couldn't quite make it happen. It's about halfway done though. I'll hopefully get it done quickly. Imma finish this damn fic this year watch me.