The Maul was bursting with monsters eager to de-stress after their first day back to school. Gossip was already flying, rumors spun and stories crafted, Christina pushed all the noise out, letting Shaggy be her unwitting shield, her protection from the rest of the shoppers who stalked the building looking for easy prey.

"Christy!" Draculaura spotted them before they saw her, "Over here!"

"Hey, Laura," Christina offered a weak smile, "Find a good deal?" she indicated the shopping bags the perky pink vampire held.

"YESS," Draculaura excitedly replied, "I got you something," she rummaged through the bag before pulling out a butterfly headband, "I was trying to remember if you had this one yet"

"Nope," Christina excitedly accepted the gift, admiring the glittering butterfly perched on the clear band.

"The others are waiting at the Coffin Bean"

"You go ahead, you know I have to hit the bookstore first"

"Okay, we'll be waiting!" Draculaura hurried off.

"Like, I could have used a coffee," Shaggy wrapped an arm around Christina's waist.

"We can look at all the cookbooks first"

"Sold, remind me where the-"

"Right there," Christina guided him into the store on the corner.

Shaggy beelined for the cookbooks while Christina grabbed a basket and made for the fantasy section. Ironic when one realized she was a fantasy creature who lived in somewhat of a fantasy world. Scanning the available titles she felt herself relax for the first time in hours. What was she worried about? Shaggy swore he'd be nice and when did Shaggy break promises?

…...

Meanwhile, Eryx let the book fall to the floor.

I need to get out of this house!

He stood, shaking a bit-after all this time he still wasn't used to legs-leaving his empty room and the house that was not a home behind he considered his options. Maybe a swim? Or a walk to readjust to having legs? Unsure what to do Eryx watched the tide pull in and out in an unending rhythm before giving up. Falling into the sand he watched the sky.

Why hadn't he considered Christina had moved on. They had broken up when she moved after all.

Christina was happy. She carried a joy that lit up the entire room.

I'm being selfish, Eryx chided himself, They clearly love each other

But, I miss her

…...

"Get enough books, Christy?" Clawdeen laughed softly.

The hybrid entered the Coffin Bean smiling from ear to ear, both arms weighed with shopping bags while Shaggy staggered behind her with a stack of books tucked under his chin.

"No," Christina replied, pushing her bags under the table, "He dragged me out of there," she nodded at Shaggy who set the books down with a long huff.

"I like, had to, you would've maxed out your card," Shaggy defended himself playfully pulling Christina in for a kiss, "You sit, I'll like place the orders"

"Okay"

"Are you okay, Christina?" Frankie asked once Shaggy had walked away.

"I'm alright," Christina said with a sigh, "I was just surprised is all"

"You told Shaggy didn't you?" Clawdeen looked up from her latte.

"Yes, after I invented every worst-case scenario"

"Christy," Draculaura reached across the table to grab her cousin's hand, "Must you always be pessimistic?"

"Eh," Christina shrugged, "I guess"

"Don't you know Shaggy's head over heels for you?"

"Are you kidding?" Cleo looked away from her Icoffin, "EVERYONE knows, just look at Spectra's blog!"

"Change of subject, please," Christina waved dismissively, "Where are the guys, anyway?"

"The arcade"

"Don't tell me-"

"Duncan's defending his win streak"

"Like that's hard to do"

"Heath has to realize he's never winning, right, Abby?"

"No, He stubborn as yak"

Shaggy returned at this point with two coffees in hand, "Like, one mint latte with whipped cream for you, plain black for me"

"I just don't understand how you can drink straight black coffee"

"I don't understand how you can't"

"Doesn't it go back to the low tolerance for salty, bitter things?" Clawdeen said knowingly.

"How does that work?" Abby asked, curious.

"Everyone knows fae are adverse to iron but their also very, very adverse to salt," Christina explained, "That's why in old stories humans are warned to salt whatever the fae offer so they can't be spelled, it's the same reason they wear rowan berries, they're a bitter fruit that wards off fairy glamours," the hybrid sighed, "That's why I don't do bitter things, if I eat too much it makes me feel icky"

"Don't look now," Lagoona's voice dropped to a whisper, "Here come the boys"

"I can feel Heath's walk of shame," Frankie giggled.

The group erupted into laughter.

…...

Ever After:

Eryx had barely knocked on the doors of the castle before they swung open. Christina stood before him, grinning ear-to-ear.

"Come in, come in!"

"You didn't tell me you lived in a castle," Eryx looked up at the towering turrets, mouth agape.

"I didn't think it mattered," Christina pulled him inside.

"It doesn't I'm just not used to land structures yet"

"This way," Christina led him upstairs, "my movie room is all set"

"Movie room?"

"Through here"

The movie room was a large space though not a theater. There were bean bags placed around the room in front of the TV. There were large glass cases on either side stuffed with VHS tapes and DVDs. Wandering closer, Eryx noticed that the shelves were labeled by decade.

"This is your entire collection?"

"Just the Disney films, look," Christina tapped a spot on the wall, causing the cases to flip, the Disney movies now behind the wall.

"Whoa"

laughing, Christina flipped the cases back before opening the one on the left, retrieving the first movie on the shelf.

"Make yourself comfy, we've got a lot of viewing ahead of us"

…...

Present, the next day:

"Nerida?"

Christina had to stifle a yelp, shutting her locker she turned to face the visibly nervous merman, "Morning, Eryx, I'm still not a sea nymph," she giggled.

"I'm sorry I put you in such an awkward place, yesterday," Eryx managed with his eyes on the floor.

"It's alright, Eryx, you just startled me. You can look at me you know"

He snapped to attention.

"Have you seen much of New Salem?"

"No, not really," the tension slowly left his shoulders, "Um, I uh, believe this belongs to you," reaching into his bag he pulled out her twisted tale novel, shakily offering it to her.

"You kept it?"

"I never got to return it to you"

"I can see you loved on it"

there were tiny tears in the jacket and spine wear evident at first glance.

"I tried to take care of it"

"You did well," Christina assured him, "I've got the next few books if you wanted to read those next?"

"Really? I could?"

"Sure"

from the crowd, Shaggy emerged, coffee carrier in hand again.

Eryx went tense.

"Morning, sweetie," Christina kissed Shaggy hello.

"Coffee for you," Shaggy presented her with the drink.

Eryx was terrified, Shaggy was so much taller than him and he was a werewolf. From Christina's stories, he knew werewolves were very protective and he had the feeling Shaggy knew the truth.

"Morning, Eryx," Shaggy greeted with an easy smile.

"Morning," he squeaked.

"Relax, Eryx," Christina laughed, "Shaggy's a giant puppy,"

"She's right," Shaggy nodded.

"So you won't tear me apart?"

"Not unless you hurt her"

"I'd never do that"

"Then we're cool"

"C'mon you two, let's head to the creepiteria"

…...

Eryx stared questioningly at the plethora of monster cuisine that was offered. Yesterday, he'd been too shocked about finding Christina to eat today however he couldn't ignore the rumbling of his stomach. But the options were a little out of his comfort zone.

"Who wants a cinnamon troll?" Christina lifted the box from under the table, "Ginger sent me a copy of her cookbook for a late birthday present"

"Ginger has a cookbook?" Frankie asked.

"Her family cookbook, with all the spells removed"

"Oh right her Mom is the-"

"-Candy Witch"

Eryx happily tore into his breakfast treat allowing the warm pastry to melt in his mouth, "This is awesome!" he moaned with satisfaction.

"I'm glad you like it," Christina laughed, "You might wanna wipe your face," she offered him a napkin.

Lagoona and Gil arrived shortly after both looking crestfallen. The two sat down without much of a greeting.

"What's the matter with you two?" Cleo bluntly asked, never one to beat around the bush.

"Some members of the swim team were injured, we've called in our alternates but we're a member short so we can't compete in the upcoming meet," Gil explained.

"We've worked so hard," added Lagoona.

Christina jabbed Eryx in the side.

He looked at her bewildered.

She face-palmed.

Then and only then did he understand, "I was uh, on the swim team in Ever After," he spoke up sheepishly, "I'd be happy to help"

"Welcome to the swim team!" Gil jumped at the chance.

"Practice is after school today," Lagoona said, "We'll be practicing outside"

"Can't wait"

…...

And here, is the end of the chapter. We're kinda inching along here. Please, review anyway.