Shaggy was over the moon. Although Christina couldn't remember a thing she wanted to hear about it. To hear the stories he had to tell.

The joy was still etched in his face when he joined the others for lunch.

"What's the smile about, Shaggy?" Clawdeen smirked.

"He and Christina are texting again!" Draculaura quipped when Shaggy didn't respond.

"How is she?" Frankie wanted to know. Christina hadn't been responding to texts.

"She's taking refresher courses online,"

"And her memory,"

"Nada,"

"It'll come back," Clawdeen declared reassuringly.

But when?

…...

Christina stared at the ceiling tiredly. She was trying so hard but the only things that were coming back were school. Some things came easier than others. None of which were memories.

"Ugh,"

Pushing herself from her bed she stalked to her mirror. Her eyes were tired. Tired and hollow. Her hair was in knots, hidden in her hoodie. Her three sizes too big, gray comfort hoodie. With it she wore faded, chevron printed leggings. They too were faded.

Hollow, she felt so hollow.

As empty as the hole in her memory.

Something was missing. A lot of things were missing but, she couldn't help but feel that something was off with her appearance. But what? Fists clenched, she rested her head against the mirror.

What am I missing?

Tears were filling her eyes, a headache of massive proportions was forming at her temples.

"What am I missing?" she crumpled to the ground, nails scratching uselessly at her hardwood floors.

She punched the floor.

"OW"

her hand hurt now.

With a grunt she staggered to her reading chair, slouching. She knew it wasn't okay to slouch.

My brain hurts! Everything hurts.

Hands cupping her head, she tried to soothe the ache. Throbbing, painfully throbbing. Wanting to yell, she fell from her chair to the floor.

I'M SORRY she screamed at whatever was torturing her.

Eyes closing she allowed herself to drift into a fitful sleep.

…...

when she woke again the pain had passed and she felt much better. Forcing herself to remember brought pain and misery. She wouldn't try that again.

"Christina, may I come in?"

Christina scrambled to her feet, sitting in her chair and ducking her head, "Yes,"

"I brought you coffee," Draculaura announced, "Mint,"

"Thank you," she whispered, taking it with a slow sip.

"School was good,"

"Good,"

Draculaura watched Christina. Her bright cousin had receded into a depressed, sad shell in baggy clothes whose eyes were hollow, lost.

"You're staring, Laura," Christina mumbled.

Saddened and confused, Draculaura slipped from the room after apologizing. Allowing Christina her solitude once more.

Shuffling to her bed she retrieved her diary from its misplacement in the sheets and taking it back to her chair she began writing:

I make my family uncomfortable. They deny it but I know the truth. I can see it in their faces. Uncomfortable and sad. It's the same look that haunted Uncle Dracula when I demanded to cover my wings for the first time.

"But-but, they're a part of you vhy vould you vant to hide them?" he had asked me.

I didn't give him a straight answer. Hazel and Gretel had to magic the answer out of me. A day later I was the proud owner of a tiny pink leather jacket. Only for the outside world. It morphed into a fashion piece later on.

Now, I cover them all the time, even indoors because seeing the stringy tatters makes me cry. Feeling them forever limp and lifeless against my back is pure agony but I can't let anyone know that. Imagine how vain I would sound!

I just...

Christina's pen dragged to a stop on the page. There was an intense discussion happening in her uncle's study. She could hear the tones and her name just below her feet but it wasn't Aunt Vana he was talking with. Even though it was wrong to eavesdrop she slid down the banister and crept to the closed study door. This close she didn't even need to strain to hear what was being said.

"I am going to have a relationship with her. Even if I have to build it from scratch!"

"And I'm not saying you can't. Vhat I'm saying is not right now," Dracula shot back, "She can't sleep, she'll barely eat and I had to FORCE her outside-"

"Um," came Aunt Vana's voice, "I talked her into leaving the castle,"

"Details, dear, the point is I said no,"

Christina shuffled her way to the parlor. Slumping on the couch, she pressed her hands to her ears and tried to block out the discussion. Pressing her face into the cushions hoping that would help.

It did not.

"THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! I'M GOING TO TALK WITH HER DRACULA WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT"

The door slammed open making her wince. Her aunt, uncle, and their guest all storming out of the study. Instead of hiding Christina remained where she was hoping that they wouldn't come into the parlor.

They did.

"Christina," Vana gasped.

"You finished your lessons?" Dracula questioned.

"Hours ago," she mumbled, face still hidden in the cushions, "I heard you from my room, I didn't intend to eavesdrop, honest,"

"It's okay, Christina," Vana pulled her from her 'hiding place', "We should have been quieter"

Christina could feel the glare Vana was sending to Dracula.

"Have you been outside today, dear?" was her uncle's next question.

"Too windy," she mumbled.

The wind picked up as if it were proving her point for her.

Vana's glare continued. She nodded her head to their hidden guest with a look that said NOW!

Dracula sunk into the seat across from his wife and niece. Here they went again.

"Christina, there's something I have to tell you," Dracula fumbled, picturing when Christina fainted the first time, "That is, there's someone who wants to meet you...again"

Christina slumped farther onto the couch, shadows moving swiftly across her face.

The sight made him want to cry.

"Who?" she whispered.

"Your grandmother,"

Christina choked down a gasp, "You mean, Mom's Mom?"

"Yes,"

Maleficent glided from the shadows with a smile, "Hello, Christina,"

Don't faint! Dracula begged silently.

She didn't faint, seize, or die. Christina just froze. Biting her cheek, her hands shaking.

Where was Shaggy when you needed him?

When Maleficent got closer, Christina shrunk away.

She was scared

...

BUM BUM BUM!

I wonder how badly this will go.