AN: Sorry this took so long. There are a lot of emotions going into this chapter that was hard to write about. I hope you all enjoy it.

NymhadoraTonks: The POV is a mystery character. I will confirm it is not Carlos or Everett. You will find out more about this he as we near Lorelai's birthday. In Lorelai's letter, she is talking about her magic lessons with Rose and the perks her magic has in sending notes to Rose, but she couldn't send one to Evie. Lorelai is speaking in code because no one knows she has magic or knows Rose. Hopefully that makes more sense.

THANK YOU!


The surges were strong in the night. The ponderings of reality crossed his mind. What if they weren't really dreams? The voice was getting louder. Or was it simply his thoughts? He wasn't sure. He wasn't sure about anything.

She had not come back to him. Why? Her mother was out of the way. What else did he have to do to get her back? His joy, his soul purpose for carrying on. Every night he would dream horrid things. Of those blue glowing eyes of the seas. The crashing waves. He was different. Not in his body, but looking through his own eyes. When he would awake, he always would smell saltwater. It was almost in the air, but never past his room. How could that be?


Everett didn't go back to Evie's. He had simply gone to Dandelion to pick up Lorelai from her magic lesson and went back home. It didn't really feel like he was missing out on anything. It had been almost a week since Everett had simply given up. He had nothing to escape from now. He spent time with Charlotte and his dad as they continued to build the treehouse. Then he would always talk to Carlos just after Charlotte went up to bed. He had heard some stories of when he was younger and sometimes his time on the Isle. He even learned about Dude, Carlos's first and only dog that died before Everett was born.

"There was this time when me and E—the girls."

"Oh! And then Mal and E—Jay."

"Those were the good times when it was just the four of us. I don't know what I would do without Mal and Jay."

Everett would always hope that he would mention Evie, but somehow he seemed to avoid it.

It was strange for Carlos to be so open. Even in the real world, Everett had never talked to Carlos this much. He never truly took the chance to hear all of his stories. Of course, he knew his father, but not in this way. Was this perhaps something Everett should've done in his real life? If he ever gets back, he would definitely try. There was an odd comfort to this relationship Everett had never had before.

But even though Everett thought he knew Carlos, the son of Cruella DeVil surprised him.

One night as they were cleaning up the table, Carlos asked him, "Conroy, are you happy?"

"Yes. What makes you ask that?" Everett raised a brow as he gathered the plates.

"I've just been thinking that you seem to check in on me more than I ever did you," his father shrugged. "And with all these new...adjustments, I want to make sure that this was a good thing."

"Of course it was," Everett shook his head. "It's the freedom we needed."

"I know," Carlos nodded. "But I can't help but feel like it's my fault you're so isolated."

"I'm not isolated," Everett went into the kitchen and put the dishes into the sink.

"I know you quit the tourney team," Carlos said from the door. Everett bit his lip and turned on the water. "You used to hang out with those guys all the time, but now I haven't heard you mention their names for over almost two weeks. Is there something else going on?"

"NO," Everett proclaimed a little too loudly. He coughed and said in a lower tone. "No."

"I never truly asked, and you don't have to answer, but what were you and...her fighting about that night?"

Everett froze. Why did he choose to ask this now? He could've asked this a long time ago. On the very night it happened he could've asked. But why now? Was it obvious that something had changed in him? That all of his hope of going to his true home had been destroyed. That he had not only gotten rid of his fake mother but lost his real one?

"Uh...she found out I was skipping practice to see...someone."

"Someone?"

Could he tell Carlos about Evie? What if he's supposed to bring Carlos to her? Wouldn't that make more sense? Everett's mind spiraled of possibilities. This could work. Carlos could go with him and beg Evie to come back herself. Everett turned to Carlos. His father watched him intensively. Before Everett could even open his mouth, someone else's voice filled the room.

"His girlfriend," Charlotte teased.

"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Everett said through gritted teeth.

"Girlfriend?"

"I have photographic evidence," Charlotte held up a picture triumphantly. Everett's heart skipped a beat. What if it was the one from the past life? Lorelai told him to keep her hair a secret. He snatched the picture quickly. When he turned it over, he sighed with relief. Lorelai and Everett were walking down the stone path to the house. Lorelai's wig was firmly on her head.

"Who is it?" Carlos asked.

"Just Lorelai," Everett let him see the picture. Carlos grinned a little.

"Mal's girl?"

"Yeah," Everett nodded, avoiding looking at Charlotte. "She's not my girlfriend. Not really."

"I know that feeling," Carlos muttered loud enough for Everett to hear. Carlos noticed the change in his son's expression and clapped his hands together. "Well, I suppose you need to go back to bed, miss."

"Or...have a midnight snack?" Charlotte batted her eyelashes. Carlos looked down at his daughter with hesitation.

"There's a little ice cream in the freezer."

"Yes!" Charlotte bolted for the fridge, leaving the two guys alone.

"What did you mean?" Everett asked before Carlos could avoid him. His father tensed.

"Oh, nothing important," Carlos casually brushed off. He was about to turn to Charlotte, who was humming to herself, but Everet wasn't letting him get away.

"I know about the maps," Everett said in a soft voice so Charlotte wouldn't hear. Carlos just stared at him, a small fear in his brown eyes. "And the picture."

"Do we have any sprinkles, Dad?" Charlotte asked in the silence.

"Uh," Carlos broke the staring contest. "Yeah, in the third cabinet I think. You know what, you can even take it up to your room and eat in bed. Don't worry about bringing the bowl down." Charlotte went back to her ice cream with a wide smile. Everett took a few steps back into the dining room as Carlos followed him and shut the doors to the kitchen. "How did you find those?" Carlos asked.

"I found them when you caught me and Charlotte down there," Everett admitted. Carlos groaned and rubbed his temples. "What's the matter?"

"I should've gotten rid of those years ago."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want anyone to find them." Carlos leaned against the wall with his hand over his eyes. Everett didn't understand why he was acting like this. What was the big deal?

"You were just looking for a friend."

"No," Carlos shook his head. "I was looking for a place to run."

Everett's heart skipped a beat. "To run?"

"There, I said it," Carlos still didn't meet Everett's eye. "I was tracking Evie down, so I could run too." He picked himself off the wall and sat in the nearest chair, staring off into the distance. Everett slowly pulled back his own seat so he could see his father's face. He waited for him to speak, and he didn't have to wait long.

"It was before your mother and I were married and...I shouldn't be telling you this—" Carlos attempted to rise, but Everett caught his father's wrist.

"No," he pleaded. "Please. I want to know." Carlos gazed down at Everett's hand. With some hesitation, he sat back down in the chair. With a deep breath, he continued. Carlos reminded Everett of the times they were living in. The debate of the barrier. Evie's desperate attempts to fight.

"I had been living with Jane for a few months. I was soon going to propose. I wasn't even thinking about the life was leaving behind. In my mind, everything was great. I had a good life ahead of me. Evie had come to me, begging for my help, warning me about Jane, warning me about the danger that would consume our lives. At the time, I thought she had gone off the deep end. After everything we've been through, I thought I was finally getting some peace. So, I turned her away...It was one of the worst things I could have ever done, I realize that now. Back then I was willing to overlook every flaw because I thought I was finally going to get a happily ever after. But once she was gone I began to realize that she was right."

"Why didn't you go?" Everett asked. "If you were plotting trails to find Evie why didn't you go? You could've easily broke it off with Jane."

"Things got a little more...complicated over the next..." Carlos bit his lip, "nine months."

Everett stared into his father's sincere brown eyes as he pondered. Nine months? What could complicate things so—

Then Everett understood, and he had never felt worse in his life. He could barely manage the thought. Carlos stayed because of him. Because he didn't want to leave his son. Carlos gave up his freedom, his passion, his happiness all because of Everett.

"Dad..." was all he could manage to say. He was so lost for words, thoughts, emotions. He could hardly breathe.

"No," Carlos shook his head. "I don't regret staying for you. Conroy, you have brought nothing but great joy to me. If I would have left I would be the same traitor that Evie is labeled today. I wouldn't give you and Charlotte up for anything."

"But Dad..." Everett tried his best to say something, but his eyes became teary. He stood up, trying to catch his breath."You could've saved her. Saved yourself or have at least been happier—"

"Conroy, no," Carlos rose from his chair. Everett turned, only to accept an embrace. "I quit tracking her down years ago because I was fine with letting her go and being here for you. I'm happier than ever. Believe me." Everett cried silently into his father's shoulder, only thinking of one thing.

Carlos may be happier than ever, but Evertt knew he could be happier.


The next day, Everett and Lorelai were walking into the gates of Dandelion. "I know why my dad stopped looking for Evie," Everett said. It had been a quiet ride. Lorelai seemed to be in a distant part of her mind because when he spoke she came back to life. She looked at him, silently telling him to go on. Everett turned his head down. Scales met his gaze from the basket of his bike. "My dad wanted to leave, actually. Wanted to leave Jane before it was too late, but...he stayed for me."

"If they were already married, that wouldn't be an easy escape," Lorelai furrowed her brows. Everett's expression didn't change and she soon understood. "Oh, Ev...you're not a mista—"

"I know," he cut her off. "That's not the point. The main thing is that he was going to find her. Runaway and be with Evie."

Lorelai cleared her throat. "Did he actually say those words?"

"They were implied."

"Right," Lorelai nodded as they went through town. "What are you going to do about it? Tell him?"

Everett shook his head. "He would never believe me. He would claim he didn't care."

"What about Evie?"

"Please," Everett shook his head. "She doesn't want to see me."

"You haven't been there in almost a week," Lorelai reminded. "My birthday is in nine days." They were nearing the castle now.

"I know," Everett bit his lip as he kicked his bike's kickstand. "I don't know. I have to get this to work."

"What if it doesn't work?" Lorelai questioned. Everett felt part of his body go numb.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Well, you have to think about what if you're stuck here," she tucked her brown hair behind her ear, revealing some of her purple roots. "Would it be so bad?"

"Yes," Everett insisted. Lorelai whirled around to face him. "Don't you understand? We're all miserable because of me. My dad, Evie, Rose, you, Charlotte, everyone."

"You know that's not true," Lorelai gritted her teeth. His expression didn't change. She shook her head. "You don't get it, do you? You never can see what's right in front of you. You have freed a father and child of the torments and torture that had been brushed under the rug for years. You found Evie and widdled your way into her life. The only reason Rose is sad is that you believe she is when really she just misses you."

Everett wasn't expecting her to respond so powerfully or quickly. It was as if she had been waiting and practicing what to say at this moment.

"I mean," she continued with a chuckle, "you even saved a cat from starvation." Everett glanced down at Scales, whose large green eyes were fixed on his. "And..." Lorelai said much softer as she took his hands in hers. "I can't even say what you've done for me, Ev. You've done so much, and you don't give yourself credit. Yes, life may not exactly be perfect or perhaps like your old life, it's scary and uncertain but...it is far from miserable. At least to me."

Everett wished he could argue, but the tenderness in her eyes made him forget everything at that moment. Lorelai had never seen him as a mistake or burden. Even now, when he felt all hope was truly lost, she accepted him. In this reality or the other, she was his. He felt comforted by that thought alone. He squeezed her hands and leaned forward, placing a single kiss on her cheek.

"I will see Rose today," Everett confirmed with a nod, pretending not to notice the red blush on Lorelai's cheeks. "As much as I wish to leave this reality, I can pick up some pieces." He let go of one hand but keep the other and pulled her along to the castle doors. They went in silently, their footsteps echoing against the stone interior. Scales quietly scampered behind them.

They entered the empty throne room. Everett stopped to look around at the walls. They were covered in bright pink writing. Could it be spraypaint? Lorelai's eyes widened as she let go of Everett's hand and stepped forward. "Rose?" she called. "Rose?!"

There was a distant clattering. To the side of the thrones, a door was thrown open. Rose leaned again the doorframe, her body shaking and her hair out of its usual braid. Rims of violet lined under her distant eyes. She held the wall for support as she trembled. Lorelai ran to her. Everett watched in horror before following.

"Everett," Rose managed to say as he took her arm. He and Lorelai lead her to the nearest throne. Her body relaxed when she sat, but her eyes still darted around. "Something is wrong."

"Yeah, I'm in another reality."

"No," Rose shook her head. "There's something wrong with the rose."

"What?" Everett began to panic.

"There are no memories attached to them."

Everett sighed with relief. "That explains why I haven't had dreams in a while."

"No," Rose shook her head. "But I have." She gestured to the words. "I haven't slept in three days."

"You should have told me about this," Lorelai bit her lip nervously.

Rose took a deep breath, regaining some of her strength. "I'm telling you about it now. They're not memories. They're new. I'm in someone else's body and...it's horrible, it's confusing, it's just terrible. I've seen what they are doing. Picking targets. I can never hear names, but it's all part of a plan."

Lorelai took a step back, Everett turned to her. "What is it?"

"I'm not supposed to say anything but...there have been attacks."

"Attacks?" Rose and Everett asked at the same time.

"People are going mad," Lorelai nodded. "They're like possessed. We've managed to heal some but then there's always another. They seem to happen at night."

Everett's mind immediately went to Jane that one night. She was mad, he knew that but the air has seemed to change. Her posture, her eyes, her movements weren't really hers. Could she have been one of the possessed? Everett couldn't put it past the possibilities. But why? Who would use the power that they have to control Jane of all people? There had to be some kind of links.

"Who else has been possessed?" he asked.

"I think I heard that Jordan, Genie's daughter, but I have never caught wind of the others. I think it was down by the coast. It's strange that it is no one in the castle, that would be the best place to strike if they want something. But I'm not sure what."

"The coast," Rose bolted from her throne. The two teens stepped back as she ran into the air, a small pink cloud carrying her. She examined the writing on the walls. It was in all different languages and strange, obscure pictures. Rose ran her fingers over a small wave. "Maga," she said softly, then laughed triumphantly. "Maga!"

"Maga?" Lorelai exchanged confused glances with Everett.

"Latin fo witch!" Rose called over her shoulder. "The sea witch! Yes!"

"Sea what now?"

"Uma," Everett realized. "Uma!" Rose smiled, and he mimicked the expression simply because he could.

"Yes!" Rose floated back to the throne and stepped off the cloud. She grabbed Everett's arms. "You have to face Uma!"

Everett's smile dropped. "What?"

"It's the only logical explanation. She's plotting something, and you're going to have to stop it."

"But...what about my parents?"

"I thought you had that figured out?" Rose furrowed her brows.

"No...actually we've had a lot of major setbacks."

"But Lorelai was just telling me that—"

"That we've got to go another angle," Lorelai cut Rose off. Everett's gaze flickered from Lorelai to Rose. Both wore a different expression that Everett couldn't tell which one to believe. So he chose not to think about it. "I think we can skip magic lessons for today, Rose get some rest. We'll figure out this Uma stuff tomorrow."

"Don't need to tell me twice," she yawned, making her way to the stairs. "You kids go on. I'll worry you tomorrow."

"Well, I'm glad that went...better than I thought," Everett shrugged minding the grinning Lorelai. "Don't say it."

"I told you so."


"So why didn't you tell me about the possessions?" Everett asked. Lorelai bit her lip. She really had a habit of that. She wasn't going to have a lip at all soon if she kept that up. She stopped her thoughts before they could move to Everett's lips, but her mind betrayed her. She blushed as she thought of the kiss he had given her earlier. "Why are you blushing?"

"I'm not blushing," Lorelai shook her head. She stared at her feet as they crossed the forest floor. "I didn't tell you because I hardly knew anything about them. I didn't want to freak you out after...well everything that has happened."

"Fair," Everett shrugged. "I just feel bad for Rose is all."

"She'll get some rest now, thanks to you. I'm just surprised you remembered Uma."

"Me too, actually," he admitted. "If you asked me to recite things from my old life I couldn't tell you too much than what has carried over into this life."

"Like what?" she asked innocently.

"Well, for starters, my mother. Evie, I mean. I miss her terribly."

"What else?" she needed only to distract him a little longer. They would soon be at Evie's door if he didn't figure out where she was leading him.

He took the bait easily. "How Charlotte was so nosey. She even took a photo of us together to show my dad as 'photographic evidence.' She's a mad one," Everett chuckled. "And I suppose now my Dad hasn't really changed. Not in the ways that I first thought of. And of course, there's you."

Lorelai's ears perked when he said that. "Me?"

"How many times do I have to remind you?" Everett raised a brow. "As much as you deny it, you're the same Lori I knew. I just didn't know everything before I found you. Now, I can easily say that I almost understand you."

"Almost?" was all Lorelai could manage to say.

"Mhmm," Everett nodded. "I still don't understand the wig."

"There would be looks—"

"Because you're finally showing your true colors." he cut her off. "Specifically your purple color." He reached over and tucked her brown wig behind her ear, revealing a purple root. His fingers lingered on her cheek, "I find it beautiful and I don't think I would be the only one."

"That's because in your world I wasn't the only freak around."

"You weren't afraid to be yourself."

"I'm not afraid to be myself."

"I know. You're brave, Lorelai. More than you know." Their knuckles brushed as he said this, making a small chill go through her spine. She glanced at him before turning her eyes upward.

"It's your turn to be brave."

"What?" Everett looked around. Lorelai had been practicing this spell for today. She grabbed his hand and magically transported them the rest of the way. Suddenly they were at Evie's doorstep. The spell worked, except that Scales and the bikes were about a quarter-mile from here. Lorelai would have to go back for them, but never the matter. At least she had got Everett here.

"Lorelai, no," Everett wrenched himself from her grasp. "You can't make me do this today."

"Yes, I can," Lorelai caught his arm again and knocked on the door. Everett tried to free himself, but the door opened quickly. Evie stepped out.

"So, you did manage to bring him back," Evie said with a soft smile. Everett stilled in Lorelai's hold. She let go of him to meet his crazy eyes of confusion.

"What did you think I was going to do? Let you give up?" She couldn't believe Everett didn't suspect that she had something going on. After all, she had been skipping out on lessons for the last three days, visiting Evie and running back to Rose's castle in time for Everett to pick her up.

"Are you coming back with me?" Everett asked Evie. She stared at him for a moment, then nodded. Everett's face instantly filled with joy. Lorelai felt a small smile come to her lips. As many times as she had fantasized of Everett staying here with her, she knew that this was what he needed.


Carlos and Charlotte came home that late afternoon from the lumber store. Charlotte went straight to the kitchen, allowing herself a "snack" that would be more like the size of a five-course meal of sugar. Carlos couldn't blame her, of course. Sweets were his own guilty pleasure after all. Carlos left the wood in the garage. He would start again on the treehouse tomorrow. He was almost done. All it needed was a roof. Then, he was sure that Charlotte would want to start on another project. He smiled to himself as he put his car keys on the counter. It dropped when he heard the pittering footsteps coming towards him.

He turned to see a small Brussel Griffin puppy waddled down the hall towards him. Carlos's heart lept. The puppy looked just like Dude, his old companion. He grinned as the dog crossed the rest of the way to his feet. "Hey there," Carlos bent down to pet him. The dog licked the tips of his fingers. Carlos chuckled. "Where did you come from?"

Scooping the dog into his arms, he called out, "Conroy?"

"In the living room, dad," his son answered. Carlos went down the hall, the puppy snuggling up against his chest. He looked down at the dog joyfully as he entered the room. "Conroy, did you do—"

Carlos stopped. For a moment everything stopped. There in his living room, stood Evie staring at him with a small grin.