From her spot on the couch Camila looked at the group currently going over various magazines. Or to be precise she was looking at their clothing that she'd managed to find. Hunter was wearing one of Mannys old shirts that hadn't seen the light of day in years, but Hunter seemed to enjoy it even if did have the cheesy #1 Dad in bright yellow letters on the front. To his left there was Gus who despite having the options had chosen one of Luz's old sweaters. Probably in part because it was the only thing that would fit him. Amity the sweet thing she was had happily accepted anything she gave her. Thinking back on it she remembered her face light up when she first put on the Azura shirt before proudly saying "I'll never take this off." And then there was Willow wearing her old hoodie much like with Gus because it was the only thing that fit. In short, the kids needed new clothes and fast.

Come now Camila you knew this day would come. You're their guardian now and that means food, shelter and clothing.

"Kids I think it's time we get you some spare clothes."

"But Camila we like the clothes we have really." She had to fight the urge to chuckle as he rubbed the sleave against his cheek. "Cotton where have you been all my life?"

"Gus you all deserve more than just spare clothes I had lying around, and your other clothes are torn up. So today we're heading to get you all some clothes. Besides it could do you some good to see the town."

Luz seemed to get an idea and shot up excited "To the mall!"

She gathered up her kids in the car with Gus having declared "shotgun" a phase he no doubt learned from Luz. When the others asked him about this he'd proudly proclaimed, "it's a type of verbal magic that guarantees me the seat next to Camila." Luz and Amity shared a laugh while Willow rolled her eyes and Hunter to her surprise muttered "shotgun huh? Next time." Gus happily climbed into his seat while Amity Luz and Willow took up the middle section leaving Hunter and Vee in the very back.

"Alright everyone do you all remember what I told you?" obviously she'd have to set some ground rules. After all the first time Hunter had seen a car driving by he'd thought it was a scouting vessel. A bit surprising but it still made her nervous. Gus is curious, Hunter is high-strung, Luz is welllll... Luz and Amity the poor dear keeps switching between curious cat and loving girlfriend. Thankfully Willow and Vee have pretty level heads.

"If anyone asks, we're foreign exchange students from Europe."

"Good Amity but what else?"

"Everyone in pairs and we ask to go off or if we don't understand anything."

"Excellent Willow, now for all the points what's the final rule?" Amity in her competitive nature tried to remember but with Luz nuzzled next to her and teasingly poking her cheek her mind was drawing a blank. A blank that Hunter happily took advantage of. "Have fun while we're out?"

"Yes Hunter exactly, You kids spend all day every day either working in that shack of yours or cooped up in the house. Not that I don't enjoy the company, but you have a entire world out there to explore."

"Wait, is Gravesfield not all of the Earth. Luz said it was bigger than the isles but how much bigger?" Gus asked barley turning his eye away from a passing streetlight.

From the back Vee once again saw an opportunity to do one of her favorite things and use her knowledge of Earth to amaze them. Besides watching moves with Camila or teasing her adopted sister and her girlfriend this is what she loved.

"Well Gus this is just one small town in one state in a country called the United States. In fact, this country is only on one of the seven continents. Actually, you could probably fit at least three or four titans on this continent alone."

For the rest of the trip the car was filled with the two of them asking and answering questions. Even Hunter and Willow got involved if only to try and ignore Luz and Amity talking about the Azura billboard they'd passed. Freed from heir vehicular prison and having down their ear disguises they entered the mall. Though Vee did seem to hesitate to transform into her Luz disguise which worried her. Why the hesitation? She knows Luz and I don't mind her transforming. Actually, she's been really hesitant to transform into her lately.

The walked pasted the vast automatic doors and into the Gravesfield mall to begin their shopping.

And almost immediately Camila nearly lost them. Gus shot toward the fountain to watch people throwing coins wanting to see the "human wishing water" while Hunter somehow wandered onto the escalator. Moments later his instincts kicked in and he began attempting to run down on a up escalator.

Thankfully she still had half her kids. "Dios miyo we didn't even make it ten seconds. Willow be a dear and rescue Hunter before he tries to jump for it. Vee sweetie stop Gus I can already see his restraint fading on his magic hand."

"Sure Camila." She said rushing toward Gus leaving Camila confused again. Camila? What happened to mom? Did I do something? Did I say something?

When her kids finally made it to the discount clothing store she was still thinking about the "Camila" incident with Vee. She'd only called her that the night she'd found out she wasn't Luz. But within a week after setting the young basilisk down and telling her she was family did she go from "Camila" to "mom" well actually it had first been "mommy" but that had made her feel to many motherly emotions, and she knew if she let the genie out, she'd never get it back in.

"Okay everyone I want you to try and pick out at least four outfits." Luz led Amity and Willow to the girls section while Gus at first tried for the children isle only for Hunter to drag him to the older section after seeing Gus holding a giraffe onesie. A onesie that he tried to defend, and Hunter had to desperately refuse when he spotted a spare. The only one that hadn't moved was Vee.

"Vee aren't' you going to choose something?"

"I don't need to choose anything. So long as I see it, I can transform into it." The way she said and how she kept clinging to her jacket worried her.

Okay Camila it's mom time. Your daughter needs you right now. Looking around at her kids exploring she ushered Vee to a small bit hidden corner. Once they were alone Vee seemed to know what was going on.

"Cam-"

"Mom, Vee Noceda I am your mother, adopted mother but still your mother and I can tell that something is on your mind."

Vee's disguise partially disappeared for a moment transforming her ears and gaining white spots as her emotions ran wild.

"Mom I'm fine really."

She tried to walk away only to feel her mother's gentle hand on her cheek as she looked her in the eye. Once looked in the emotional gaze she quicky gave in and looked toward Luz.

"It's just you said school is starting soon…"

Something clicked in mind as Vee's ears began to flutter. "Vee did you want to go to school?" when Vee's only response was a small but powerful nod.

Camila didn't know how to respond. Before when Luz was gone, and she had no idea if or when she'd returned, she'd talked about Vee taking her place in school.

Luz didn't have friends and had a reputation for being off so I figured it couldn't hurt to let her go. Her camp friends go there after all. Oh…ohhhhhh dear.

In that moment she remembered that Vee had friends that she'd been talking to before Luz and the others showed up. Catching her on the phone or embarrassing her during a video call to someone called Masha.

"I know you said I can still transform into Luz and Luz was more than happy to have a twin sister but let's be honest explaining six kids is hard enough. Suddenly gaining a twin daughter is another thing entirely."

"Vee…"

"It's alright mom I'm not upset I've just been thinking."

"About what?"

Taking a look around she found a small hand mirror before closing her eyes and transforming. In moments her Luz disguise was gone in in it's place was a young girl with green hair and blue tips. Her ears were poking out from her head while her skin was a shade or two lighter which matched with her new pumpkin sweater.

Opening her eyes, she looked at her new form smiling as she did so. "I've been thinking about the new me. As much as I liked Luz's form, I was only copying someone else but now I have something the screams Vee Noceda." The words had barely left her mouth when Camila grabbed her cheeks and gave what was possibly the most embarrassing motherly affection filled cheek kisses anyone has ever had.

"Vee Noceda you precious cinnamon roll I love it! Just look at your little ears oh and those eyes of yours so bright and colorful. That's it we are heading to a photography studio after this and getting a new family photo. And don't worry sweetheart momma will find a way for you to see your friends again."

Oh and of course see my friend at the record office to see if I can get some no questions asked adoption papers. I'm not going to let my baby hide anymore. If we act fast, I could probably even get her enrolled in school alongside Luz.

When Camila's motherly smothering was done and Vee led her back to the others, they were at first taken back but just she'd hoped were happily accepting, even if Luz asked if this meant no more twin sister. Vee simply slugged her shoulder while promising "Don't worry sis we can still plan some twin shenanigans." Watching Luz gave her sister a happy hug and slightly inquisitive ear touch was too adorable an opportunity to pass up on and she quickly snaped a picture with her phone earning an embarrassing "Moooomm" form her girls.

As the others came out each one sporting a new look and Hunter having to go back with help after sporting a massive red cardinal outfit. A outfit that she later agreed to buy if only because he seemed far too unwilling to let it go. Mostly in part to Willow and Gus saying it suited him.

She would later admit that what she did next might have been wrong. But then again, these kids had just escaped a magical and narrow-minded dictator trying to wipe them out. So, she figured having Gus use his magic to turn a twenty into a hundred was the least this world could do to accommodate them.

I'm a single mother of six teenagers after all. Besides she made sure to leave an actual forty-dollar tip to even out whatever bad karma she was feeling. Although as she looked at her kids enjoying their new clothes she doubted making them happy counted as bad karma.