Months had passed in the Noceda household and after all this time of caring for her new kids she knew that the end was coming. Maybe it was the fact that Halloween was soon approaching, and magic was in the air. Or possibly that the kids had gotten closer and closer to creating their portal, but she knew they'd soon be gone. And while a big part of her was glad they were going back to their world and awaiting families. But then there was the other part of her. The large motherly part that didn't want her babies leaving.
If they leave, I'm going miss them. Miss my morning walks with Hunter through the woods, he's always so happy when he meets me at the door. He's no longer the rescue dog from the first night, no he's a happy family dog now. She even remembered their conversation from a few days ago just after they'd' returned.
"uhhh Cam- Mom do you think I can ask you something?"
"Of course Hunter what is it?" Just like with Vee hearing her being called mom filled her with glee.
"Well, when we get the portal up and running, we'll be able to cross whenever want and well I got to thinking that you… that is if you want…. could officially enroll me at Hexside. I've just never actually attended school before, and I need a parent or guardian to-" he was caught off when she nearly crushed him in a hug. "Of course sweetie! Oh, there's so much to do, we'll have to get you a proper bed for your room in the basement not to mention meet the principal."
"Wait you mean I can stay with you? I just kind of thought I could stay in the old shack."
"Hunter Noceda no son of mine will be sleeping in a shack! It's been months and you six have barely turned one room livable. Besides with you here Luz might be on time for school… even if she chooses the magical one." She'd quickly rushed him inside after that. Now here she was Ghost in her lap happily accepting her neck scratches as she looked out the window.
I'm going to miss tending the fiends with Willow. Seeing her in her element happily growing foods and majestic plants. Even Lord Chompers has grown on me. Never in all my life did I think a four-foot-tall purple fanged plant could be that friendly and yet everyday I'm feeding it leftovers and treating it like a pet. Not to mention our daily brushing session. That was their private time where they could talk about anything. Amity had grown her own hair out after walking in on this before gently being ushered out and now politely waits for her turn.
"Amity is such a sweet young lady. Always so eager to spend time with me and have a motherly figure that sees her as her and not a puppet." Amity had told her about Odalia Blight and after helping her though the emotional breakdown Camila had promised her future daughter in law that if she ever saw her, she'd face her la chancla. After that she'd clung to Camila even accidently calling her mom. Her activities with Amity was cooking, at first, she'd told her that they could do something more but in true Amity fashion she'd said, "this is already more that I could hope." So, for the past couple months they'd made various meals together, Luz was especially pleased although she did flinch a bit when Amity presented her with a pie.
"I'll even be losing my apprentice." Camila and Gus had spent many an hour watching their favorite series tighter. Even using magic to recreate various scenes and items. Even to her shame creating their own plasma cutlasses to perform the knighting ceremony. Something Hunter had witnessed before quickly leaving.
Later though she caught him asking Gus if he could make him one. The look in his eye as he duel wielded it and Falpjack was something she just had to capture with her camera. Since that moment he'd started down the path of Cosmic Frontier. But to start with the shows instead of the books is just unheard of. But then again to each their own.
Gently placing Ghost on the sofa, she went upstairs to the girls' rooms. With school having started a while ago Luz and Vee now spent most of the day there. Vee had of course been over the moon, even more so after meeting up with and explaining to her camp friends about some things. Of course, she hadn't quite gotten around to telling them she was some sort of mythical creature but at least they now knew the real Vee Noceda.
"If only Luz could have some human friends here." her statement however wasn't just a mother wanting her daughter to have more friends, in reality it was her pleading for an excuse.
"Is it really so bad to want her to stay in her own world? Sure, she's made friends there, and has a girlfriend, rediscovered an entire school of lost magic….." she stooped herself from continuing knowing she'd already said more than enough.
When it came down to it, she wanted all her kids to stay here. "But I can't be selfish. Not like I was that night."
That night had become a recurring nightmare for her as of late. Finding out Luz had actually been in the demon realm all this time. Discovering the Luz that had been living with her was a shapeshifting demon who was really just a scared girl. Making Luz promise to stay here whenever she got home.
Moving to Luz's desk she saw the various sketches of this Eda Clawthorne and the little furry demon King that had adopted Luz as a big sister.
"She doesn't just have friends there. She's made a life over there, a life that I'm trying to get her to give up just so I don't lose someone precious to me again." Just beyond the sketches was Luz's palisman egg.
"A witch's familiar, a lifelong partner and a milestone for any young witch." She'd shown her this the second day they got here and proudly proclaimed how Eda had helped her carve it.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever done mami. Every cut was nerve wracking as I kept thinking how I'd mess up. Each time she told me that no matter what it came out to be it would be perfect for me."
"So why an egg?"
"Well because I got to choose what I became, and I wanted my palisman to do the same. Now I just have to play the waiting game for this little guy or girl to hatch."
Camila had seen it dozens of times while under its little heating lamp and each time she swore she she'd seen something different. "One time it was wings, other times it was multiple legs, last time it furry paws, even now it kind of looks like a snake." Whatever it was she was sure that Luz would love and take care of it as she practiced magic. Which only cemented Luz's future not being here.
"Dis Miyo this should be easier. No Camila, being a parent, especially Luz's parent isn't easy. It's your job to make sure that they're loved and happy and if Luz's future is in a world of magic and demons then so be it."
She knew what had to be done and so she put her plan into action. Her first part was going to her other kids in the shack and encouraging them to stay away from the house for an hour or two after Luz and Vee got back. They all seemed to know what that would mean and happily agreed to stay away.
With her kids taken care of she went to work doing her best to mentally plan out every word and response. Taking great care to focus on not getting to emotional. After all this was a conversation that they needed to have and one she wasn't going to screw up.
By the time her shift was over, and she was approaching the school to pick up her girls she was mentally freaking out. Something Vee picked up on the moment she was inside.
"Mom is something up?"
"I wouldn't say something is up sweetie, but Luz and I do need to have a bit of a conversation when we get home. A much-needed conversation." Vee took the hit and pulled out her cellphone that Camila had given her.
"Hey Masha, you up for a move?" whatever response Vee got made her blush and wiggle her ears. "Just meet me at the theater before I bite you." Seconds later she received a response that made her blush and quickly end the call while muttering "she wants me to bite her?"
One slightly awkward car ride and drop of Vee and one motherly warning glare at Masha later and she and Luz were sitting at the kitchen table Luz looking a bit fearful.
"So what do we need to talk about?"
Taking a deep breath and thinking back to earlier Camila began what was going to be one of the hardest conversation she'd ever had.
"Luz you of course remember our promise?"
Her daughter's eyes widened as her breath hitched. "Yes mami. I promised to stay here if I got home."
"Good, now Luz I want you to listen very closely and not say anything until I'm done, alright?"
Luz nodded as she continued. "When I had you make that promise I wasn't in a good place emotionally or mentally. How could I be? In less than an hour I find out you've been in the demon world for the entire summer, a ream you admit you choose to stay in." Luz tried to speak up, but Camila stopped her. "Then right before my eyes you start disappearing and I had no idea if I'd ever see you again. It's not an excuse but when that happened, I thought back to your father and how I lost him, and I didn't want to lose anyone else. So, I made you promise never to leave if you came back, that things would be different… that I would be different." Tears already forming she grabbed a tissue wiping her eyes before going on. "Even when you came back, I was sure that I was right to make you promise that. I mean you admitted to fighting a magical tyrant and nearly dying multiple times." Now Luz was starting to cry. "I just wanted you to be happy and have friends like a normal teen, but you shouldn't have to change yourself to make friends. True friends like you for how you are and those are the type of friends you brought home. Which is why I'm willing to allow you keep attending Hexside and continue your life as a human witch."
Luz was silent for ten whole seconds before jumping up excitingly asking "Really?! I can continue living with King and Eda?"
"Calm down mija, I said you can continue being a witch, letting you continue living with someone I don't know is something else entirely. From what you've told me she's loving and caring but also irresponsible to the point of neglect. I mean honestly you lived with her for months and she never got you an actual bed?! All you had was a random sleeping bag in a crowded room filled with junk. I'll meet with her and talk to her then we'll see about you possibly staying with her. If I say no, then it's you living here but going to Hexside."
"Alright that's fair." She then rushed forward and hugged her. "I love you mami."
"And I love you to Luz. Now how about we have some quality time together before the others get back."
"Dips on the remote!" she rolled her eyes and stared making the snacks hoping that these happy days would go on forever. Though as the saying goes, all good things must come to and end.