Christina was still sleeping when Carter and Maleficent came to ask about his magic studies. Shaggy was watching over her as he always did. Carter sat beside her. Not wishing to disturb her with such a question at the moment when the says events had clearly worn her down.
Shaggy tried not to shake with fear when he saw Maleficent. He stood protectively in front of his sleeping wife despite knowing that she meant no harm.
Carter watched him do this figuring it was instinctive more than anything else.
Then Winnie came running in jumping and tackling Carter, effectively waking Christina who jolted upright on high alert. Carter noticed she always had even when he was very little. His mother would sit upright and scan the room.
She was still scared.
He grabbed her arm and watched as she relaxed.
"Hi, Mom," he smiled.
"Hi, Carter," she smiled back at him, weakly
"How'd you sleep?"
"Good,"
"I have a question,"
"I'm listening,"
Carter faltered. He wasn't sure if he should ask or even how to ask such a big question so suddenly. Luckily, or maybe unluckily Maleficent came to his rescue.
"I would like to help with Carter's magic studies,"
Carter watched his mother trying to figure out her thought process. She was shocked at first then that melted into something he knew well. She was going to say no.
"Like, I think your mom could use some coffee before asking her to think about anything that important", Shaggy cut in, deducing how much this meant to Carter. "Like, mochaccino with a dash of cinnamon on the foam, Sweetie?"
"Sounds magical," Christina nodded.
Carter was relieved. His mom was always happier and agreeable after coffee no matter the time of day.
Winnie crawled off of Carter allowing him to inch closer to his mother. She put her arm around him, ruffling his hair.
"And what have you been doing?" she asked.
"Exploring"
"You never stop exploring,"
"Because there's always something to find,"
"I agree!" Winnie smiled.
"Of course you do, you're my partner in crime" Carter laughed.
Winnie crawled closer, Carter put his free arm around her.
Maleficent grinned knowingly as did Christina.
"At least we've moved past the senseless running back and forth," Christina chuckled.
"It wasn't that bad!" Carter protested.
"Yes, it was,"
…...
"Carter Chase!" Christina yelled, racing after her young son.
"Can't catch me, Mommy!"
"Or me!" Winnie added with a devilish laugh.
Carter swung a sharp turn, sliding haphazardly on the hardwood, dragging Winnie with him.
"Carter!" Christina gasped struggling to catch the kids.
Was she this bad at that age?
All Christina wanted was a nice vacation home for Thanksgiving and she had spent the last three days chasing Carter all over the castle.
"Whee!" Carter laughed, springing to his feet at the last second and bounding up the steps, Winnie behind him.
Only to be caught by his mother and Clawdeen.
"Let's watch Charlie Brown,"
"SNOOPY"
"Yes, Carter, snoopy," Clawdeen smiled.
…...
"Just wait until Alissa comes, Mom" Carter smirked.
Christina rolled her eyes.
"We're back!" Shaggy cried, presenting Christina with her coffee before taking his place beside her.
"You feeling okay, Jade?" Carter asked.
"Fine," Jade sighed, flopping onto the floor.
Scooby didn't seem convinced. No one was convinced but they let the matter slide for now.
"Well, Mom?" Carter asked hopefully after his mother had some of her coffee.
"I'll think about it,"
"Okay,"
…...
Carter woke early the next morning, sliding out of bed he realized that in all the excitement of the previous day his shirt still hadn't been repaired. He shivered, opening the massive door and creeping down the hall. Hopefully, his mother was awake. Tiptoeing into her room he found her sleeping still. Careful not to wake Scooby, Jade or Shaggy he tapped his mother on the shoulder, thankful she didn't jolt upright again. Instead, she flopped over to look at him through a sleepy haze.
"Morning,"
"Good morning," she whispered.
"Mom, my shirt's still torn," he informed her.
"Let me see," she yawned, sitting up.
Carter wordlessly handed it to her, watching with intrigue as she fixed it with her magic. He always liked watching her do magic, wondering how she got so good at it and if it was hard. Now, he was learning first hand that getting a grip on magic was indeed difficult. His Mom made it look so easy!
"I wish I could do magic that easily," he confessed.
"You'll learn, it'll get easier but, taking my spellbook and trying random spells isn't the way to go about it,"
Carter cringed, "I said I was sorry didn't I?"
"Only about a million times,"
"Please don't ground me!"
"Would you rather write I will listen to Mom on my board all day?"
Carter cringed again.
"That's what I thought,"
…...
Later that day once everyone was awake fed and ready they set out. Traveling from Maleficent's home to Ever After High. Due to it being summertime the gleaming castle stood empty save for a few staff. Carter inched closer to Winnie and grabbed her hand out of nervousness. The school was so big and empty. The sounds of their feet echoed around them.
Carter was so caught up in everything that he barely realized they had stopped. Winnie had to keep him from falling head-first onto the floor.
Maleficent knocked before ushering them inside the headmaster's office.
The office looked more like a throne room to Carter but he didn't say so. It was clear, however, that Winnie thought the same.
And the man sitting behind the large desk did nothing to ease Carter's nerves.
"Madam Maleficent?"
"Milton, Giles," Maleficent nodded,
"Who are your...guests?" Milton asked surveying the strangers.
Milton wasn't dure what to think of those before him. The two adults were clearly monsters but, one had fairy wings. Odd. Then the kids. A werewolf and a vampire? How? Why? What were they doing here?
"This is Alissa's daughter, Christina and her family,"
"Alissa had a daughter? Why didn't the records-"
"She comes from a different world," Maleficent cut in.
"World?"
"Yes, Sir," Christina nodded before making introductions, " This is my husband, Shaggy, my son, Carter, his friend Winnie and our pets Scooby-Doo and, Jade"
It was then that Milton and Giles noticed the dog and the wolf who sat side by side, protectively in front of the others.
"If I may ask," Milton drawled, "Who's your father? You and your son certainly don't look like fae,"
"My father was Radu, he was a vampire,"
Milton recoiled sightly but kept a polite facade. Giles, on the other hand, wasn't the least bit phased as he had always been more open-minded than his brother. He smiled warmly at the group offering them a tour.
"Yes, I would like to see where my mother went to school," Christina nodded, Carter bouncing slightly in excitement.
"Hexellent, right this way,"
They left Milton scheming in his office. That boy despite his clear vampire traits was the rightful heir to the story Alissa had abandoned so long ago! Now, how to make him sign the book?