A/N OMG! IT'S THE SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER!

Chapter Nine

The Grimms' rode in the car for another few miles, but then the road ended. In the distance, they could see a huge tower, reaching high into the sky.

"Well this is just great," Sabrina said. "The road ended and that…" She paused for a moment. "…tower is still miles away. Some help Charming was."

"We'll just have to go on foot," Jake said, grinning. "Come on, 'Brina. Where's your Grimm spunk?"

Grumbling under her breath, Sabrina exited the car, followed by her little sister and Puck. Veronica and Jake shared a look as Henry, Relda, and Mr. Canis took the lead.

"Do you think this'll work?" Jake whispered to Veronica.

"I don't know," she admitted. "All we can do is hope for the best. I mean, it was sickening when they were in love but…this is worse."

"You can say that again," Jake mumbled to himself as they began to follow the rest of the family.

"Mom, how do we know this will work?" Henry complained in a whisper to his mother, glancing over his shoulder. Daphne was walking between Puck and Sabrina, holding the older girl's hand.

"Have a little faith, libeling," Relda replied, her eyes looking forward. "We can only hope for the best, nothing else."

"But what will we do if it doesn't work?"

For the first time, Relda betrayed a hint of worry. "I don't know," she whispered.

As the Grimms' approached the tower, the wizard inside began to wave his hands, muttering words under his breath.

The path was suddenly littered with tree roots, branches, and large rocks. Almost immediately, Granny tripped, falling to the ground and hitting her head.

Henry and Canis decided to carry her back to the car and drive her to Charming's house—he was sure to have an extra bed she could rest in, and a telephone with which they could call a doctor.

Watching this all through a crystal ball, the wizard nodded in satisfaction. Although he couldn't hear what was being said, it was clear that the rest of the family was disconcerted by the old woman's fall.

They continued on, and the wizard did another spell, this one causing Daphne to stop suddenly, her eyes glazing over. There was a flash of lightening, and Daphne was raised into the air, exactly as she had been when she defeated the Scarlet Hand.

And just as suddenly, she collapsed, barely breathing. Veronica and Sabrina knelt beside her, rolling her over and checking for a pulse.

Although the wizard couldn't hear what was being said, it was clear that they were afraid the little girl was seriously hurt. It seemed a decision was reached, and Veronica scooped up her daughter and started to run back the way they had come.

The three who remained—a blonde man with a handsome face and the two the wizard had cursed—continued on, all three with wary faces.

"This won't do at all," the wizard said to himself. He raised his arms again and said shouted a few words. They flowed together, sounding very beautiful.

The reaction was immediate. Sabrina and Puck, who were walking side by side, glanced at each other, and then stared openly. Both stopped and they faced each other, smiling like love struck teenagers.

The man turned around to see why they had stopped walking and was met by a site he had hoped never to witness: Puck and Sabrina were making out passionately.

"What the hell is going on?" Jake said, confusion all over his face. "Five seconds ago you wouldn't even look at each oth—hey, DON'T TRY TO TAKE MY NEICE'S SHIRT OFF!"

Jake separated Puck and Sabrina. They were both breathing heavily, and Sabrina's shirt was crumpled. They couldn't stop looking at each other, and Sabrina was struggling to break free of her uncle.

"Stop it," he told her sternly. "I won't let you go until you answer my questions."

She sighed. "Fine. What happened? I was just walking along and then I looked over." Her voice got dreamy. "And there was Puck."

Puck grinned at her. "Same thing. Did you ever realize how hot she is? I just wanna—"

Jake shook Puck. "Do. Not. Go. There. We need to get to the tower!"

"I don't want to," Sabrina said, staring at Puck happily.

And suddenly Jake realized what must have happened. "DAMMIT!" he exclaimed. "That wizard…he re-cursed you! Gah! How are we supposed to get anything done?" Jake stopped talking, his mind racing. If they were in this state…it was worse than the hate, and would get worse the more time they spent together. The only thing Jake could do was get to the tower and distract the wizard enough for the spell to terminate.

"Of course, the hate spell will be harder to break," he said out loud. "For it to have lasted this long, it will need to have a physical representation. Which means I'll have to destroy whatever it is…

"Ok, kids, I'm gonna go to the tower. I'll leave you here but…you need to be good, ok? Nothing…too physical. Keep your clothes on."

They both nodded absently, and Jake released them. He turned and started to run towards the tower, leaving Puck and Sabrina alone.

Half an hour later, Jake arrived at the tower, panting. Walking around the base of the tower, he found no door—only a ladder made of…hair?

"When in Rome," he muttered to himself, putting his foot on the first rung and beginning to climb.

It was easier than expected. Before he knew it, he was at the top and sliding into the tower through the open window. He was in a large, round room. There were bookcases around the walls, and several smoking pots on the tables. The entire room was like a mad scientists lab—except that Jake could feel the magic. His addiction flared, but he suppressed it.

Looking around, he saw a huge crystal ball, and standing in front of it was a man. He was wearing a traditional wizard's outfit—long robes, pointy hat.

"You have got to be kidding me," Jake said loudly. "That get up is so Harry Potter. What are you, eight?"

The wizard spun around. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

Jake gave his most charming grin. "I'm the hell Jake Grimm, but most people just call me Jake. And who, if I may ask, are you?"

Instead of answering, the wizard spoke in a strange, guttural language, throwing his hands in Jake's direction. Jake rolled his eyes and pulled an amulet out of one of his many pockets.

"Can't we settle this like civilized men? No? Ok then." Jake pulled vials, amulets, and glowing objects out of his pockets, whispering into each one in turn. "I'm warning you, guy. I'm gonna kick your sorry ass. Last chance…"

The man threw a ball of light at Jake, which was easily deflected. "Ass kicking it is," Jake said sadly. "Don't say I didn't warn you…"

Sabrina and Puck pulled apart from kissing. As soon as Sabrina saw who it was, she started screaming. When Sabrina started screaming, Puck did, too.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" Sabrina screamed at the faery boy.

"WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME? YOU KISSED ME, SMELLY. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!"

Sabrina laughed scornfully. "What do you mean, I kissed you? Why on earth would I ever kiss you?"

"Oh, sh—" Puck stopped mid-sentence, staring dreamily at Sabrina. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "I love you sooooooo much."

Sabrina giggled. "I love you soooooooo much, too, Pucky-boo."

Jake spat blood out of his mouth. The wizard was muttering again, staring intently into his crystal ball. Over his shoulder, Jake could see Sabrina and Puck in a lovers embrace.

Gagging a bit, Jake grabbed the wizard's hat right off his head. When the man turned around, Jake caught his face with a hook punch, knocking the wizard out.

Sabrina and Puck jumped away from each other, glaring. Before Puck even opened his mouth to scream, or talk, or whatever, Sabrina spoke.

"Look, snot brain. There's something going on, and we need to get moving. Instead of fighting about ridiculousness, we can figure out what's going on, and then we never have to see each other again."

"For once, Grimm, you got something right. Let's move."

Just as Sabrina and Puck arrived at the tower, Jake was exiting. He climbed down the ladder, carrying a bundle carefully.

"Uncle Jake!" Sabrina exclaimed. "What's that? Where's the wizard? What the hell is even going on?"

"I dealt with him," Jake said vaguely.

"Ok?"

"We gotta move, 'Brina. We need to get back to Charming's—God, that's a sentence I never thought I'd say."

Over an hour later, all the Grimm's convened at Charming's house. Granny and Daphne were both conscious, if confused and weak.

They met in Charming's dining room. Granny was helped in by her son's, and Daphne was carried in by Mr. Canis. The family sat around the table, Sabrina and Puck on opposite ends of the table.

Jake walked in with his bundle, dropping it into the centre of the table. "So, I realized a little bit ago that whatever put a curse on Puck and Sabrina had to have a physical vessel. No one could keep a spell going for that long with just their thoughts. So after I…disposed of the wizard, I looked for the vessel."

"What'd you do to him?" Daphne asked with big eyes.

"I locked him inside one of his one crystals," Jake said with an evil grin.

"Jacob," Relda said reproachfully.

"What, Ma?" he whined. "He deserved it!"

"Can we get on with this?" Charming asked impatiently. "I want you all out of my house as soon as possible."

"Right," Jake said. "Well, as I was saying, the hate spell would need a physical vessel. Something to keep it grounded. An anchor, if you would. After I took care of the wizard, I looked for the vessel.

"There were a bunch of crystals around, and from each of them I got a different feeling. I figured out that they were all anchors, and depending on what spell they were holding down, they would feel a different way."

Jake grinned and unwrapped his bundle. "This is the one that felt…I don't know how to describe it. Peanut, maybe you could try?"

Jake took a large, black crystal from the fabric and handed it to Daphne. She closed her eyes, and a moment later, opened them, looking both shocked by whatever it was the she felt and pleased with herself.

"It feels like Sabrina. And Puck. And…cold. Like hatred. THAT IS SO COOL!"

Jake laughed. "Exactly! And if we destroy this? We destroy their untrue feelings. Brilliant, aren't I?"

"Uncle Jake, you are SUCH a cool cat!" Daphne exclaimed. "When do we destroy it?"

"Right now, kiddo. Puck, 'Brina, stand on either side of the crystal with your right hands here." Jake pointed to a blemish on the crystal's surface. They did as they were told, and Jake stood back. "Charming, do you happen to have a sword or an axe?"

"Yes, yes. SEVEN! GET ME MY BATTLE AXE!" Charming yelled in no particular direction. Moment later, the dwarf, Mr. Seven, came running in carrying an axe almost as big as he was. He handed it to Charming, who handed it to Jake.

"Ok everyone, back up," Jake said. He took a step back from the crystal and then swung it as hard as he could into the crystal. The crystal broke, and a blinding light filled the room.