A/N: Okay, here's what happened…first of all, real life got on the way and while I can apologize for days on end, it happens, right?

So I've been plugging away at this, what was supposed to be the final chapter, but everyone had a lot to say and I just couldn't shut them up! It's that always how it goes with fictional characters? Anyhoo, when this got to the 16,000+ word mark and I still hadn't finished it, I said "fuck me running!" rather loudly and made the decision to split it into two, because while I wanted to give you all a huge epic send off for our girls here, the number of PMs received begging for an update weighed heavily on my shoulders…

So, with a huge, majorly huge, shout out to MsWitsEnd(who patiently read though numerous versions and pointed out things that needed changing, rearranging and clarification) because she's a total badass! Head over and check out her story, Stonem House…excellent read seriously! Love ya, babes!

Also, this chapter is setting everything up for the final chapter…

And without further ado, I present to you…

Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever owned Skins or The Beauty and the Beast…what I do own, however, is the Ed Sheeran X Little Martin guitar :)

Chapter 30: The Words I Didn't Say...

Mandy was seething with hatred. The thought of the two of them together filled her with a blinding rage as she rushed back into the kitchen. She knew she should not have gone out there, should not have searched them out, but Mandy couldn't help it.

To actually see them as a couple, all loved up, made her physically sick to her stomach.

'Why do they get to be fucking happy?' She thought angrily to herself, her teeth grinding and her breathing turning shallow. 'Why did I get shit on by those bitches?'

Mandy didn't realise the force she was using to put empty trays into the sink to be cleaned, but the banging that echoed through the large room drew the attention of the wait staff, along with Helena and Dutch.

"What's up, Jessie?" The young man asked quietly as he came up behind her.

She resisted the urge to growl at him as she turned quickly, scared by the sudden interruption to her maniacal musings. Mandy blinked rapidly as she stared at him vacantly.

Dutch wasn't ashamed to admit that the look in her eyes scared him more than a bit, and when he didn't get a reply from her, he decided to back away. "Just...don't b-break anything, yeah?" He turned and quickly walked back over to his station, giving Helena a shrug to her unasked question.

"You might wanna go and talk to her." He said to Helena. "I'm gonna step out for a quick fag, yeah?" She nodded and he cast one more glance at the brunette before leaving. He couldn't suppress the shudder that went through him as he saw the look on her face.

Helena waited a few more minutes before she went over to the girl and placed a comforting hand on Mandy's shoulder. "Is everything alright, dear? Did something happen out there?"

"No. I'm fine." It was a flat response, because at this point in the game, Mandy couldn't drum up the energy to act contrite.

Helena couldn't place the tone or the look the girl was giving her, and being clueless about the true motives the brunette had, smiled. "Why don't you take a break, yeah?"

Mandy nodded curtly and started toward the back door, but after quickly deciding that she had had enough playing nice for these stupid people, enough hiding and definitely enough running, she changed direction and stepped into the little storage room and grabbed her bag. Once she checked that everything was in there, she went out the back door and settled down on a stone bench adjacent to the large house.

She knew she had to calm down, had to get herself under control or else she was going to blow her chance and she had come too far to waste the moment.

Mandy knew that it was now or never as she stood up, making sure she had her bag, and started looking around for another way inside.

"I can't believe you and Naomi did all this." Katie stated in wonder for the fifth time since she stepped into the room.

"We wanted to make tonight special." Effy replied, sheepishly. "Naomi feels this will be the only birthday she gets to spend with Emily, so...,"

Katie watched as Effy left the statement hanging between them and followed her line of sight, coming to rest on Naomi and Emily laughing together and a sudden wave of sadness hit her. "I don't want anything to happen to Naomi." She said as she felt tears building up, threatening to spill.

Effy felt her heart flip as she caught the sadness in Katie's eyes and she wrapped her arms around the older twin. "Me neither, Kay, but there's nothing we can do."

"I know," Katie agreed in a watery voice, "but it doesn't stop me from wishing that there was, ya know?" She felt Effy nod her head and pulled away, pointed at her sister and the blonde. "I mean, look how happy they are, Effs?"

"I wish I could make it stay this way." Effy told her, moving around Katie to stand behind her, wrapping her arms around the smaller girl's waist and placing her chin on Katie's shoulder. "I haven't seen Naomi this happy since she was twelve, before her dad disappeared. I'd kill to keep Naomi alive."

Katie brought her hands up and linked their fingers together. "I know you would, babes."

Effy watched with interest as Jenna and a couple of older ladies made their way toward Rob. "Who's that with your mum?" She asked.

Katie looked and gave it some thought before coming up empty. "I don't have a clue, but look over there." She pointed back to Emily and Naomi, as they were sneaking out of the ballroom. "I think one of the birthday girls is about to get a present and the other one is wondering if she'll get her surprise soon?"

Effy laughed deeply at the adorable look on Katie's face. "I love you, you know that, right?" She stated as if it was an everyday thing, but it made Katie freeze on the spot and she stopped laughing.

"Oh...," Katie said taking a deep breath, "you didn't say anything about it, so I thought...I didn't...," she dropped her eyes, too embarrassed to look at Effy, thinking about her conversation with her mum.

"I know and I'm sorry. I should have said something, but to be honest, it was a huge statement. I needed time to process it, ya know?" Effy felt uncomfortable, and for the first time in her life, she was unsure of the situation. But she knew that Katie was just as unsure as she was, so Effy took a shaky breath and tried to explain. "You confuse me and yet clarify everything for me, Katie. You were right, when you told your mum I'd never been in a relationship, because I've never, yet you make me want it," Katie blushed at Effy's words, but waited on bated breath for the next thing to slip from her lips, "you make me want forever and if you'll let me love you, I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you." Effy finished, breathless and almost ashamed that that much feeling came out of her mouth, but one look into Katie's eyes and she knew it was exactly the right thing to say, even if she was crying.

Katie was crying because Effy loved her. She had been afraid since the night before that Effy would laugh at her, but she didn't and Katie knew in that moment that Effy was it for her. She threw her arms around the taller girl and kissed her as if they weren't surrounded by everyone she knew, trying to convey all she was feeling into the one kiss.

Effy moaned loudly and pulled away because the need to breath became a struggle. "Let's go visit the hallway cupboard, shall we?" Effy smirked at her as Jamie's taunting of Naomi and Emily from the day before came back to her.

"I thought you'd never ask!" Katie said as she linked their hands together and led her toward the infamous cupboard, Effy laughing behind her.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Cook listened to the voice on the earpiece he was wearing, whilst speaking into the mic at his wrist, gritting his teeth loud enough to be heard by those standing next to him. "And he's sure it's her? When? How the fuck did she even get in? Yeah, thanks." Cook said as the conversation came to an end, swearing violently. "Motherfucker!"

He was with James, Freddie, JJ and Lara, as well as Thomas and Panda, taking quiet break from the party in the den and the sudden outburst scared them.

"What's wrong, Cook?" Freddie asked, a sudden shiver going through him as he saw the look in the older man's eyes.

"It looks like we've got a party crasher!" Cook said forcefully.

Freddie's eyes widened as he cottoned on. "Mandy?" He asked, knowing the answer, as JJ and Panda gasped and James swore.

"Seems she was part of the catering crew, went by the name Jessica...one of the security lads was having a fag with the bloke that helps run the company in the security office and he saw the picture of Mandy that was hanging up, connected the dots." Cook explained, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "I've gotta let Gina and Kieran know! Do me a solid and find Emily and Naomi, yeah?" He asked Freddie.

"Yeah, mate...just go."

Cook took off followed by James, leaving the rest of them to look for their friends.

"Millie, Alicia...what a pleasant surprise." Gina said, that surprise evident in her voice, as Jenna brought them over as soon as she could. "What brings you out tonight?"

Millie looked around at the crowded ballroom, before speaking. "Is there somewhere quiet we can speak?"

The hairs on the back of Gina's neck raised at Millie's tone of voice and she nodded. "Of course. This way." She said as she led them all out of the ballroom and ushered them to her office.

Once they were all in the room, Kieran shut the door and Gina gestured to the chairs set around the room as she sat down herself. "What's wrong?" She said immediately, business-like.

"I take it you didn't know we had been invited by Jenna tonight?" Millie said, with a smile, noticing the shock in the older Campbell's eyes.

"No I didn't, as a matter of fact, but it's a pleasure to have you here." Gina responded with a smile.

Millie laughed loudly, as Alicia chuckled next to her. "Admit it, Gina, you're wondering what the hell we're doing here!"

Gina didn't blush or look chagrined, but her eyes did take on a steely look. "Well, yes, quite frankly, I am wondering that."

"I invited them because as crazy as it sounds," Jenna spoke up finally, "it would seem that we're related."

Gina's eyes wide at Jenna's revelation and she gasped. "Are you...,"

"Sure?" Jenna clarified for her.

"Well, yes."

Alicia pulled out the papers proving the family connection and handed them to Gina, allowing her to read them.

Millie and Alicia waited as Gina and Kieran read over everything. Once they were done, Gina looked up with tears filling her eyes.

"D-does...this m-mean...," Gina was clearly emotional about the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't lose her daughter, "is it possible?"

"It could mean that, Gina." Millie said gently, smiling at her long time friend. "But that all depends on Emily, our very own little Child of Gemini, doesn't it?"

"But Naomi loves Emily, everyone knows it!" Gina replied passionately.

"Aye, she does, but does Emily love Naomi?" Millie asked. "The curse called for a Child of Gemini to fall in love with Naomi, you see?"

"Of course she does!" Gina stated emphatically, so sure of that fact.

Jenna watched as a range of emotion passed over Gina's face and she almost didn't have the heart to say what she needed to say. "I'm not sure about that Gina."

Gina's eyes snapped to Jenna, full of ice and rage, very much like Naomi's. "How can you, of all people, say that?"

Jenna almost wilted under the glare of a mother protecting her child, but she didn't. "I say that because I've been watching my daughter! Emily thinks she's too young to be in love, Gina. She doesn't understand how to let go of her heart and hand it over to Naomi."

Gina stood up quickly and started pacing. "I've watched her too, Jenna. For months I've been watching her! I couldn't help but watch her as she and Naomi danced around each other, like fighters in cage, wary of each other and afraid to swing first!" She continued to pace, oblivious to the looks from everyone in the room. "When Emily first found out about the curse, she was angry, but she didn't run! She could've, but she didn't, she stayed. And even when we were told there was no hope of breaking the curse, Emily didn't run. She stayed with my broken daughter and held her!" Gina was worked up, she knew she was, but she couldn't help it.

"Gina, I'm not saying she doesn't love Naomi, I'm just saying that I can't tell if she does or not." Jenna said, trying to calm her friend down.

Millie watched in fascination as Gina kept pacing. She had arrived tonight, not knowing what to expect, but found a very important part of her family. She had been entranced by Jenna, and amused by James, stating that he was almost a carbon copy of her brother Murphy and she had been delighted by Katie, as she was caught sneaking off with her friend. The only one she hadn't met yet was Emily.

Jenna had told her that it was for the best that they didn't mention the family connection to the children just yet, and Millie agreed. But now she sat silent as her old friend ranted before her, and she wondered if maybe they should have.

"Gina, please calm down, dear." Millie said, stern enough for Gina to stop pacing. "Please sit down and I will explain."

The older Campbell did as she was asked and sat next to Kieran, who had been silent until now.

"So what does all of this mean? For Naomi and Emily?" He asked, intrigued enough to sit forward in his seat. "How can we be for sure that this will work?"

"My sister, Sophia's grandmother, used the Child of Gemini catch once in a spell. She was a jealous sort of girl, our Millicent was," Millie started explaining, "that poor girl suffered and searched for years, until she met my older brother in Dublin."

Kieran and Gina were spellbound as Millie told them her brother's story and stayed silent until she was done.

"Sweet Jesus! Emily has to actually say the words to Naomi?" Kieran spoke as if in thought, but then his eyes focused in on Millie. "I'm right, aren't I? She has to say them to Naomi or it means nothing at all?"

"Yes." Millie simply said.

"We have to tell Emily about this at once!" Gina snapped, in a hurry to get to this curse done and over with.

"Slow down, love." Kieran said placing his hand on her shoulder. "Think about it, we corner Emily and try to pressure her about this...we don't know for certain that she feels the same for Naomi, Gina."

Gina's eyes turned a peculiar shade of icy blue as she glared at her husband. "What are you suggesting? That we keep this to ourselves, hoping she finds the courage to say it?"

Kieran calmly swallowed the fear that his wife had instilled in him, because he'd been on the receiving of that anger once or twice or a dozen over the years.

"Do you really wanna ruin the party? The party that Naomi worked so hard to arrange for Emily?" Kieran asked, effectively deflating his wife's ire.

"I think Kieran's right, Gina." Jenna said, thinking about what he said. "Let's not get our hopes up tonight, just in case my daughter doesn't feel the same or," Jenna said quickly, watching Gina ready to insist again, "is too scared to admit how she feels."

Millie, Alicia and the rest of Sophia's family had stayed silent, along with Rob and Kieran, whilst Jenna tried to convince Gina. They could see that she was torn about what to do. Of course she would want to tell Emily and Naomi straight away, hopefully putting an end to the curse, but she could also see the outcome if Emily didn't feel the same.

The internal battle Gina was fighting was clear on her face and Jenna felt the urge to comfort her. "Listen, let them have tonight, yes? Let's not ruin it for them, Gina. It's not like we don't have time, right? Naomi has until September and that's over two months away. A few more hours won't hurt either of them."

Gina almost looked defeated, but then Jenna's words sunk in. "You're right. But tomorrow, we have a talk with Emily."

Jenna agreed with a nod and a smile.

"Rob, can I interest you in a beer? Let the ladies have a chance to gossip or whatever trivial stuff that women do when they get together." Kieran could tell by the look on his wife's face that she was curious about this new development and wanted to give them their space.

"That's sounds wonderful, actually." Rob agreed and stood. "Millie, it was a pleasure to meet you, to meet you all." He said to the rest of Millie's family, with a smile before following Kieran out of the office.

"Aunt Millie, we're going to leave you to talk. Maybe grab something to eat? " Tara said, and the rest of them agreed with her.

Millie smiled and nodded, as all but her and Alicia stayed with Jenna and Gina.

Once the door clicked shut, the questions from Gina began then the four of them sat and talked for a while longer in the quiet of the office.

"Happy birthday, Ems." The words were whispered as Naomi placed a kiss to Emily's temple.

Despite the warmth of the air in the hedge maze, where they had snuck off to, Emily was shaking. She couldn't decide if it was because of the earth shattering orgasm she'd just had, the way the pulses coursed through her or how hard she worked to not shout out "I LOVE YOU!" mid climax. Her resolve to tell Naomi how she felt wavered during their lovemaking. It just didn't seem right, didn't want Naomi to think she only said just because of the moment.

"Are you cold, babes?" Naomi asked, concerned for her redhead, as they held each other. She concentrated on Emily's face and noticed that something was off.

'Tell her now!' Emily's brain was shouting at her, but she couldn't force the words out, so even though she knew Naomi was expecting an answer, she didn't say anything. 'You're a coward, Emily Fitch!' She felt like she was going to cry.

"Ems?" Naomi saw the tears brimming and didn't know what to do. "Please, say something?"

Emily pushed herself away from Naomi and adjusted her dress, and then walked to the centre of the garden. "I didn't thank you for tonight." She said, avoiding Naomi's eyes.

"I'm pretty sure you just did." Naomi responded with a smirk as she adjusted her clothes as well, but failed to grab Emily's attention. "Emily, seriously...you're scaring me a bit, what's wrong?"

"I want to talk about September." Emily cringed, because that was not at all what she wanted to talk about.

Naomi scrunched her face in confusion at Emily's words. "What? Why?"

"Because it's something we need to talk about." Emily snapped, seriously annoyed with herself, but taking it out on Naomi.

"You wanna talk about that now?" Naomi fired back, unsure why Emily was acting like this. "Can't we just...go back inside and enjoy the party?" She stood from the bench she had been sitting on and started pacing.

"No, I don't think we can just yet." Emily replied quietly.

"Don't do this now, Ems." Naomi sighed, not wanting to fight. "We can talk about it tomorrow, yeah? Let's just go back inside."

"Why don't you want to talk about it?"

"Because it won't change anything, Emily! Because I'll die and the rest of you will move on with your lives!" Naomi shouted, hating that all of a sudden now it mattered to her, were it didn't before. "I made a mistake and I've learnt my lesson, but no amount of talking is going to change my fate, Ems! Don't you know how much it hurts knowing that I can't stay with you?"

Emily wrapped her arms around herself. She was still shaking and she couldn't stop. The words that she vowed to say earlier sat on the tip of her tongue like a lead weight.

Naomi didn't feel the tears that spilled from her eyes as she turned to face Emily. "Emily, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?" Naomi pleaded for an answer.

Emily cocked her head and looked like she was about to spill her thoughts, as she stood there with her arms still wrapped around herself. "I don't know, Naoms," she responded softly, the will to fight leaving her in the face of Naomi's tears, "I know I'm being stupid. It's just...,"

Naomi waited for Emily to finish, but that didn't look like it was happening that second. "Just what?" She prodded, the need to find out what was wrong was growing stronger by the second.

"Nothing. Forget it." Emily said quickly, wanting to get back to that happy place she was in ten minutes ago. She double checked her dress, smoothing down the front where it was still a bit ruffled from earlier, and forced a smile on her face. "Let's go back inside."

Naomi watched in confusion as Emily turned and headed toward the entrance of the garden, the shift in her moods was starting to give Naomi whiplash.

"Are you serious right now?" Naomi demanded, causing Emily to stop short of leaving the garden and look back at her.

"What?"

"What?" Naomi asked in return, giving Emily an incredulous look. "You bring up September and in the next breath you wanna go back to the party?"

Emily knew she was acting childish and selfish, but she honestly couldn't help it. She was feeling extremely selfish right at the moment.

"Don't you know how much it hurts knowing that I can't stay with you?"

Those words sat heavy on Emily's heart and her breath hitched as she thought about how to respond.

"I'm sorry." She replied quietly, pushing down the urge to smack herself. It was such a weak reply, but it was the only thing that came out when she opened her mouth.

Naomi shook her head sadly, so sure that Emily was about to tell her what was wrong. "You still doubt me." The statement hung between them, as Naomi tried to search Emily's face but the redhead kept her gaze firmly planted on her feet as she scuffed the ground with the toe of her shoe.

When the silence stretched, Naomi couldn't handle the weight of the tension.

"After everything that's happened, how could you still doubt how I feel about you?" Naomi asked, not expecting an answer, so she kept talking. "I really don't understand what's happened in the last hour, Emily...I don't know what's going on in that brain of yours, but I've given you everything I have. From the first moment I've met you, I've slowly been giving you all of me, doesn't that count for anything?"

Emily's eyes finally snapped up to face Naomi's icy glare. "It counts for more than you know, Naoms." She said quietly.

Naomi cocked her head, willing Emily to say more, but she didn't. "But you still won't tell me what's wrong. I've opened myself up to you, more than I have to anyone and yet you still hold back?"

"What do you want from me, Naomi?" Emily's eyes flashed, as the words flew out of her mouth.

"I want you to try!" Naomi fired back at her.

"I am trying!" Emily said, with less venom. "I don't know what you want me to say, Naomi."

"That's just great!" Naomi exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air, shaking her head. "You still don't understand! It's not about what I want, Emily! It's never been about me, don't you see?"

Emily shook her head, wondering how they had got to this point when a short time ago they were in each other's arms. "I can't explain what's going on in my head, Naomi. It just seems like there are things we need to talk about and we keep skirting the issues."

"Skirting the issues?" Naomi's eyebrow quirked up in question. "Okay...okay, yeah...there is an issue we need to discuss, right? Mandy! Let's talk about Mandy!"

Emily sighed deeply and fought the urge to growl. "I don't want to talk about fucking Mandy! She means absolutely nothing to me and she's not important!"

"Emily, you're fucked in the head if you think that it's not important!" Naomi raged. "How can you be so naive about this? She's out there, somewhere, looking for you! And it's fine, for now! But once I'm gone and you go home, then what?"

"Stop it, Naomi!" Emily couldn't think about that right now. Her mind was too full of Naomi to even contemplate what Mandy was doing or where she was. "This isn't about that freak of nature! This is about you and me and-,"

"Don't you dare say it, Emily!" Naomi cut her off angrily. "I'm done with this! I can't believe that after all this time, what we've been through and you won't let me help you when something's wrong! And don't even try telling me this is about my curse!" She spat out and walked past Emily, heading toward the house.

Emily couldn't move. She was paralysed with the sudden fear that Naomi was done with her altogether and it wasn't until the sharp painful spikes of the pulses that kicked in was she able to free herself.

"Naomi!" She shouted as Naomi rounded a corner and disappeared from her sight. "Naomi?"

"I'm done, Emily!" Naomi stated again, as she strode across the lawn.

Emily had no choice but to follow her girlfriend and hope she could fix what she had just broke.

Mandy was so angry, she was vibrating with rage, as Emily's words echoed in her brain.

"I don't want to talk about fucking Mandy! She means absolutely nothing to me and she's not important!"

It looped over and over and over again. And even though, somewhere deep, deep in her twisted mind, she knew it was a small possibility that Emily had never cared for her, but she had always overlooked it.

She watched Naomi storm toward the house followed by Emily, from where she wedged herself in to the hedges, as that rage built itself until she was almost unable to contain it.

She had been looking for another way into the house when she had heard them exit and watched in disgust as the two of them made out on their way to somewhere. Mandy followed, making sure to stay a safe enough distance away so that they wouldn't see her.

She had been overjoyed when she had followed them into the hedge maze, but lost them in the twist and turns. She was about to curse when she heard them laughing practically right next to her, on the other side of the hedge. That laughter turned to breathy moans and uttered pleas to go "faster" and "harder", causing Mandy to throw up at the thought of them together.

After she expelled the contents of her stomach, she straightened up and prayed that neither one of them heard her.

'Fuck if they did, not with all the noise they're making!' She thought to herself in disgust, violently clenching her jaw and gripping the strap on her bag. 'It would be so fucking easy right now. I could take them both out and no one would ever know!'

It was so perfect, that all she had to do was actually find them. So she started searching, using their cries of pleasure as a guide, until she found herself at the opening to the garden. Mandy was on the verge of throwing up again as she caught sight of the couple and looked quickly away.

'Fucking great!' She thought to herself as she tucked herself away into the hedge and prepared to wait.

But here was her chance, as Emily scrambled like a love sick puppy after the blonde bitch. She hitched the bag she carried higher on her shoulder and made her way across the lawn.

When Mandy reached the door, she opened it slightly and peered inside, making sure the way was clear before she stepped inside what looked to be a study of some sort.

She smiled to herself as she opened another door leading into a hallway and she could still hear Emily calling for Naomi.

'This is gonna be great!' Mandy thought as she ducked into an alcove. She set down her bag and started taking out the items she had purchased from Johnny White, with a smile on her face. 'We'll see who the freak is when I'm done with them!'

"Katie, love, have you seen your sister and Naomi?" Gina asked Katie, as she and Effy stepped back into the ballroom. The older twin shook her head. "Effy? Any idea where they might be?"

"What's wrong?" Effy caught the underlying hint of something in Gina's voice.

"Nothing, dear." Gina stated, plastering a smile on her face. "I just haven't seen them in a while and was curious."

Jenna came up behind Gina, as Effy eyed the older woman. She knew Gina wasn't telling the truth and was about to call her out on it when she caught sight of Sophia along with the other two women she had noticed earlier.

"What're you doing here?" Effy asked the other girl, and watched as they all shifted nervously, then turned back to Gina again. "Alright, seriously! What's going on?"

Gina sighed deeply, knowing that she'd never be able to keep anything from Effy. "You know Sophia," Gina said, earning a nod from Effy and Katie, "this is her mum and great aunt."

Effy's mind was working overtime as she started to put pieces of the puzzle together. "They're helping with the curse!" She stated excitedly, feeling a glimmer of hope. "I'm right, aren't I?"

Millie chuckled at the girl, staring into her eyes, finding a hint of something otherworldly in them.

"Effy, please keep your voice down...," Gina replied, looking around the room, hoping no one else heard her, "it's...not a sure thing."

Katie caught on to Effy's excitement. "But it's a possibility?" She asked, her lisp evident.

"Anything is possible, dear." Millie interjected, simply enchanted by Katie, who had the same facial features as her brother. "We can't rule anything out."

"But Naomi said that it couldn't happen," Katie said sceptically, not sure why she should believe the older woman in front of her, "she said that there was no such thing as a Child of Gemini!"

Effy was watching Millie, as the older woman gazed at Katie, wondering why the look in her eye was intense and wistful. "You know something, don't you?" She asked Millie, almost accusatory.

"I know a lot, young lady." Millie replied with a smirk. "I've lived a long life, you know."

Effy rolled her eyes, causing Gina and Jenna to chuckle. It was very rare for someone to get the best of Effy and it was amusing to watch.

"Look, Effy," Gina finally controlled herself, "yes...Millie and Alicia are trying to help Naomi, but not tonight. Tonight is about Katie and Emily, so-,"

"Bollocks!" Katie cut her off, then realised what she'd done. "Sorry, but...," she trailed off as if she was unsure if she should say anything or not.

"What is it, love?" Jenna prodded gently.

Katie looked at everyone standing with her, noticing that they all looked curious about her thoughts. "Well...it's just...we're all invested here. I know that Emily and I aren't part of the curse anymore, but...," she paused to gather her thoughts, "Naomi's my friend and if there's any way possible to help her, then I wanna know about it!" Katie finished, as Effy wrapped her arms around her.

"Yeah, I agree with Katie." Effy said.

Jenna and Gina gave each other a look, knowing that their plan to wait to tell the girls was on the verge of blowing up in their faces. Gina looked around the room once more before addressing the two girls.

"Follow me." She said and once again headed out of the ballroom, confident that they would indeed follow her.

"Gina, what's going on?" Katie asked nervously, as Gina shut the door. "Mum?"

"Love, do you remember your great-grandmother?" Jenna answered her daughter's question with a question of her own. "I know it was so long ago, you would've been about five the last time you saw her?"

Katie thought back, confused about the question, but she did remember. "Vaguely...why?"

"She was my sister-in-law," Millie informed her, a sad smile on her face, "although, I didn't know that until recently...she was married to my older brother."

Katie and Effy both took time to process that information, and even though it took Katie a few seconds longer than it took Effy, they both put the final piece of the puzzle into place.

"Emily told me that only Sophia's family were Children of Gemini...," Katie stated, still deep in thought.

"That's true. It's what my father called us," Millie told her, smiling, "somehow, over the years, it just became a family thing."

Millie took the time to quickly explain about her brother, Maureen and Millicent's curse, the Children of Gemini and the family connection. Effy's eyes lit up as the implication of what Millie was saying just hit home. But she pushed the excitement down, never one to trust something so easy. "So if it's true, if Emily really is a Child of Gemini, how do we know that she'll even break the curse?"

Gina rolled her eyes in frustration, because she didn't feel the need to explain everything all over again.

"It's complicated." Jenna stated sadly, as Gina was about to remind Effy of her manners.

"What's that supposed to mean, Mum?" Katie prodded, feeling the need to get to the bottom of this. "Either Effy's right and we're related to Miss Teenage Witch over there, or we're not! It sounds pretty fucking simple to me!"

"Katie, calm down, babe." Effy soothed, trying to stop the situation from exploding. "What she means is...," she started to explain turning to glance back at Millie, "there's a catch, isn't that right, Millie?"

Everyone turned to catch the look on Millie's face, which was part amused and part impressed.

"I must say, young lady, that you have a very keen sense of perception." She stated and then decided to take a seat. "You're absolutely correct...are you sure you don't have the Craft in your blood?" Millie eyed Effy intently.

Effy quirked an eyebrow at the question and smiled her mysterious smile. "Trust me, if I practiced the Craft at all, we wouldn't be in this situation." She said, casting a quick glare at Sophia.

Alicia tensed at the statement and Sophia blushed deeply at direct hit, but Millie laughed. A deep hearty laugh that came from pure pleasure and her nieces could only stare in wonder at her.

"I've no doubt about that, my dear. No doubt about that at all." Millie said, still laughing. "I'm sure someone like you would be more powerful than anyone I've ever known!"

Effy was oddly chuffed at the statement from the older woman. "So how about you tell us what the catch is, and maybe we'll be able to help, yeah? I'm assuming since Gina hasn't torn the house down looking for Naomi yet, that you're waiting to tell her and Emily, but I just can't figure out why?"

"It's a simple reason, really. Jenna doesn't want to ruin the beautiful ball that Naomi had worked so hard to plan and what's another day when she has a couple of months yet?" Millie partly explained.

"But there's something else, isn't there?" Katie asked, going over every thing she had learnt in the last half hour. "There's more to it, there has to be!"

"I've been watching Naomi and Emily very carefully, Katie...," Jenna spoke up, "since Emily came to me and told me that Naomi was in love with her and about the curse. I wanted to know if Naomi was just saying it to break the curse or if she really did love Emily. And whilst I could see that Naomi's affections and actions were true, you know what I couldn't see?"

"What?" Katie asked, desperate to hear her mother's words.

"I couldn't tell if Emily loved her back." Jenna proclaimed sadly, and Katie was about to speak up, but a quick glance from Effy had her keeping quiet.

"But what if she did?" Effy asked Millie, looking the woman straight in the eye. "That would break the curse, wouldn't it?"

Millie nodded. "Of course it would, but she would have to be completely in love with Naomi, not a "maybe I'm in love with this girl", but full on, head over heels in love with her." She stated, using air quotes causing Katie to giggle at the silliness of it.

Effy looked at Katie and it seemed as if they were having a conversation with their eyes, as everyone else merely watched in confusion.

"Elisabeth Stonem! What do you know?" Gina knew that look in the girl's eyes, it was the look that said "I know everything and I'm deciding if I want to share it with you", a look that she had seen since the first day Effy entered her life.

The tone of Gina's voice brought Effy back to everyone else in the room. It was very rare that Gina used that voice when it came to her kids, so Effy was immediately chastened.

"We know how Emily feels about Naomi." Katie replied softly, earning looks from Gina and her mum.

"Well, this should be interesting." Millie piped up, smiling brightly. "How about everyone take a seat and we'll have a chat."

They all understood that it wasn't a suggestion and began sitting around the room. Once they were settled, Effy and Katie told them everything they knew.

A/N:Alright guys…we're to the end…one more to go after this…I'm excited and sad about it.

Let me know what you think:)

Love ya,

Marci :)