"Just to satisfy my curiosity," Laura asked Katherine, "How exactly did you and Gregory make yourselves up before you met Elizabeth's human fiance?"

"Well, you know the silver and white sprays you have?" Katherine asked. "I borrowed them and gave Gregory and myself some spritzes of color in our hair and then drew wrinkles on and stuff."

"Do you think that even flew?" Laura asked. "I don't think it would have. I know what that spray looks like and it doesn't look natural."

"Even if it doesn't, what's Stephen gonna do?" Katherine replied. "He won't want to risk looking like an idiot by asking questions, will he?"

"Who knows?" Laura replied. "I mean, you may be able to count on him playing dumb for awhile, but you won't be able to do it forever. And once Elizabeth is married, you won't be able to escape him."

"Luckily, we have witches in the family," Katherine said. "Maybe I can get some help for Gregory and myself from one of them."

"I think you should," Laura agreed. "And sooner, rather than later."

"Only problem is, I don't know any of the witches well, and I'm not sure Gregory does either," Katherine replied. "Do you know any witches?"

"I do," Laura nodded. "And Gregory does too, of course. Maybe when Gregory comes to pick you up, we can all go see one together."

"Really?" Katherine asked warily. "This isn't some trick, is it?"

"No," Laura replied. "After what Charlie put Elizabeth through, I feel I owe you something. So I'll take you to get fixed up, and it won't be a trick. we can even go in my car!"

"Good," Katherine nodded with satisfaction. "I can't wait until we leave."

"You told Alistair we're coming, right?" Gregory asked his sister as they and Katherine stood on Alistair and Astrid's front doorstep.

"Yes, I told him!" Laura snapped. "What, do you think my manners are so bad that I would show up at someone's door without at least letting them know I was coming?"

"Sometimes I wonder," Gregory sighed.

Then, Astrid opened the door and smiled at them all. "Hello!" She said brightly. "Laura called earlier and asked if you all could come visit! Come in, come in!"

"See?" Laura said to her brother as she stuck her tongue out at him. "Told you I called ahead of time!"

Gregory saw and rolled his eyes before giving his sister a gentle push to keep her moving.

Astrid heard Laura's comment and chuckled to herself, sitting them all down in the living room and offering them tea. "So," she said. "What do you need? How can Alistair and I help you?"

"Our daughter has a human fiance," Katherine got out. "And as you can tell, if we don't have some sort of spell put on us, things could get a bit awkward after awhile."

"I see," Astrid nodded. "This is the first human who's been brought into the family in awhile, right?"

"Yeah," Laura nodded. "And if Charlie hadn't really screwed up, it wouldn't have had to happen."

They sat in silence for a moment before Gregory finally asked, "So how are you, Astrid? How's work and all that?"

"Work is good," Astrid nodded. "Alistair and I are gonna leave for a long overdue vacation in a few days. Adrian and Helene are gonna come and watch the house for us while we're gone."

"Where are you going?" Laura asked. "The tropics? I'm trying to picture Alistair in Bermuda shorts."

"He looks better in them than you might think," Astrid said fondly, allowing herself to picture the same thing, although in her case, that was all Alistair was wearing. "And yes, we are going to the beach."

"That'll be nice for you," Gregory replied. "You and Alistair deserve it, after all our crazy family has put you through."

"Oh, between you all and work, there's never a dull moment in my life," Astrid replied. "I don't mind."

Just then, Alistair came inside. "I saw Laura's lime Bug in the driveway," he said. "Is she here?"

"Yes," Astrid replied and gestured. "And Gregory too." She then looked at Katherine apologetically. "Sorry," she said. "I don't remember your name."

"Katherine," Katherine said.

"Right," Astrid nodded. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Katherine replied. "We don't know each other very well."

"It appears Gregory's daughter has a human fiance," Astrid told her husband as he came to sit next to her. "And given that, he and Katherine need our help."

"Yeah, I never thought I'd say this," Katherine said. "But I need you to make me look old!"

"I can do that," Alistair assured her. "Don't worry. I just need to go get my book. I haven't done such a spell in awhile."

"What do you need a book for?" Gregory asked. "I thought witches and warlocks just made spells up!"

"We do," Alistair replied. "But we have to have some place to keep what we make up, don't we? So we don't forget it all and can pass what we do onto others?"

"Good point," Gregory nodded. "I never thought of that."

He went and got his spell book, turned to the proper page, and then gently asked Laura to move out of the way while he and Astrid said the spell that Gregory and Katherine needed together.

When it was all over, Katherine pulled her compact mirror out of her purse and looked at it. "I don't think that worked," she said. "I don't look any different."

"Well, of course you don't," Alistair said. "The spell only works on humans. You and your family will see you as you are. Humans will see you as aged. Is that what you need?"

Gregory chuckled. "It might alarm Elizabeth at first, but yes, it's perfect. Thank you for you help. And enjoy your trip."

"Thank you," Alistair said, taking Astrid's hand and giving it a squeeze. "We will."

"I have something to tell you," Ethan told Selina. "I have a date soon. With a girl."

"Okay," Selina nodded. "And are you dating this girl because your father said you should?"

"No," Ethan shook his head. "Jeffrey doesn't like me and I can't find any other boy to date, so when a girl asked me out, I said 'Yes'. I think Daddy will be happy for me."

"Now you know I would never tell you how to run your love life," Selina told him. "But if you don't want to have a future with this girl because you like boys, you have to tell her!"

"Oh, I know," Ethan replied. "I'm not gonna go out with her forever. Just once. Maybe twice."

"All right," Selina sighed, still not sure of what her son was doing. "Whatever works for you. I'm sure it will make your dad happy."

"I know," Ethan replied. "And even though I know that what I'm doing is a lie, it'll be nice to see him smile at me."

Selina just looked at him, gave him a weak smile, and then wrapped her arms around him tight, hoping that the next day would go well.

Ethan felt a warm, happy glow as he and Lisa left the house, his father's proud words and expressions cemented in his brain. They then got in the car and Lisa said, "You know, I'm not one for fancy restaurants or anything. I prefer something a bit more casual, you know? Where I can have a drink, maybe shoot some pool. You know any places like that?"

"I do, as a matter of fact," Ethan replied. "My sister owns such a place." He then grinned as he pictured Jeffrey seeing him on a date with a girl. He would be so pissed!

"What's so funny?" Lisa asked as Ethan chuckled. He paused and looked at her. "Okay, let me get this out here and now. I'm gay, so if you think I'll fall in love with you or something, that won't happen. I only said 'Yes' to this date to show up my boyfriend who's being a jerk. If you want me to take you home, I will."

He expected Lisa to be mad, but she just smiled. "You know, the same thing happened with my sister. What do you say we go show this boy a thing or two?"

Feeling even happier than before, they drove to Enid's, where Jeffrey and his biker friends were playing pool. "Mind if we play a round?" Ethan asked, picking up a pool cue.

"Sure," Jeffrey said. "It's a free country."

"Is that him?" Lisa mouthed. Ethan nodded, then Lisa locked eyes with Jeffrey before smiling at Ethan, giving him a big kiss, and saying, "Good luck, sweetie," while snickering at Jeffrey's shocked face.

When she pulled away, Ethan smiled at Jeffrey, who was looking at him, mouth agape. "And just what is the matter with you?" He asked. "Don't you know it's impolite to stare, Jeffrey?"

"You were kissing a girl!" Jeffrey cried. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Well, you're not showing any interest," Ethan replied. "Did you just expect me to wait around until you were ready to be kind to me?"

"Well...yes!" Jeffrey nodded. "And even if you are trying to make me jealous, why would you do it with a girl?"

"Cause if I got in a relationship with another boy, it would mean that things between you and I are more over than I would like them to be," Ethan replied. "And I guess...I guess I'm not ready to face that possibility yet. Cause I love you, Jeffrey!" Ethan looked at his former boyfriend with pleading eyes as Jeffrey flushed and the boys around him burst into laughter.

"You're just not going to let this go, are you?" He asked.

Ethan shook his head. "Not until you tell me what happened to you. Why you've changed to so much." He gestured with his hand at Jeffrey's compatriots. "Why you're hanging out with them!" He stood rigidly, facing Jeffrey and his cronies without blinking, until, sighing with irritation, Jeffrey took Ethan into a corner and spoke to him in an impatient whisper.

"When we left, it was to go be with my dad's father," he said. "And he wasn't as accepting of me liking boys as Mom's family was. He told me the only way I could live in his house was if I suppressed that part of myself, and my father told me that would probably be the best thing. I haven't been out with a boy for years, and I don't know when I'll be ready to try again."

"But you do still like boys, right?" Ethan asked. "Do you still like me?"

"Yes," Jeffrey nodded. "And I'm sorry I'm hurting you but...you understand why I can't be with you at the moment, right?"

"Well, I don't," Ethan shook his head and grabbed for Jeffrey's hand. "But there's not much I can do about it, is there?"

"No," Jeffrey replied. "I'm sorry." Then, he held Ethan's hand for awhile, the warmth of his grip making Ethan feel better before Jeffrey let go and headed back to his friends at the pool table.

A short while later, Lisa came and joined him. She'd seen the whole thing. "I don't need to know what happened," she said, putting a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "I can pretty much figure it out. Will you be okay?"

"Yes," Ethan said. "He told me he still loved me so...I think I'll be all right until he's ready to come back."

"Good," Lisa nodded. "So, what do you wanna do now? You wanna get a drink? See a movie? Go home?"

"Let's go see a movie," Ethan replied. "My father will be disappointed if we go back home so soon."

"I'll pay," Lisa said as they headed to the car.

"No, I will," Ethan told her. "I insist. I feel it's only right since you're being so kind to help me with this whole Jeffrey situation."

"All right," Lisa nodded. "Whatever you want."

"What are you smiling about?" Selina asked. "I mean, I think I know, but I want you to tell me."

"I'm just so happy Ethan went on a date with a girl tonight," Elijah smiled and then shut his eyes.

Selina sighed and ran her fingers through Elijah's hair, not wanting to spoil what were probably some very good dreams for her husband by telling him that what was going on between Ethan and Lisa probably wasn't permanent, and that sooner or later, he would go back to being with Jeffrey.