TW

Attempted suicide.

Based on "Turn This House Into a Home" by themultifandomnerd over on AO3.

This story takes place in a timeline where Belos made it back to the Demon Realm, but the Hexsquad didn't. Lumity broke up because the guilt-driven Luz wouldn't stop searching for a way to return while Amity resigned to the likelihood that there wasn't. Once Luz finally reaches that same conclusion, it's gonna hit hard, and there's really no timeline where Luz can live happily after losing both the Boiling Isles and her soulmate. This poor girl needs a reason to live.

RING RING RING RING RING RING

Amity Blight snapped awake at the sound of her cell phone. The room was pitch black except for her alarm clock, displaying that was nearly 2 in the morning. She scrambled around for her phone, finally finding it and turning it over. The blinding light of the screen displayed the name and image of a person who tugged at Amity's heartstrings.

Luz Noceda.

It had been months since the last obligatory "How r u" text exchange, and at least a year since either of them had spoken to one another directly, and half a decade since a trip to Florida resulted in them going their separate ways. "There'd better be a good reason for this," Amity grumbled before answering the call. "Hello?"

"Hey there Amity." Luz's voice sounded hollow, monotonous. A far cry from the ray of light she was when Amity first got to know her.

"Luz, what's going on? Do you have any idea what time it is? Where are you?"

"A hotel in Indiana. You should see the view from up here. Breathtaking, really. Yeah, I know it's late. Sorry to wake you...I'm sorry for a lot of things, really...You won't have to worry about me bothering you again, I swear. I just...needed to hear your voice one more time." There was something unsettling about the way she said that.

"Luz, are you okay?"

"No. I'm not."

"What's going on?"

"You were right, Amity." Luz's voice broke as she said that. "...about the Demon Realm. I've wasted 5 years chasing down every possible lead...anything even remotely magical or paranormal...hoping it might give you and our friends some way to get home...that there was something I could do to make up for all my mistakes. And what do I have to show for it? A broken heart, a fringe MewTube account, a bunch of credit card debt...and a whole lot of misery." She was sobbing. "And as much as I deserve it, I just...can't do this to myself anymore. I'm done. There's nowhere else to go, no way back...and maybe nothing to go back to."

"Luz..."

"I should have just accepted that and married you when I had the chance."

Amity's heart skipped a beat at the memory. For a time, she'd traveled with Luz on her fruitless journey, but couldn't keep it up. Everything changed in Florida. The witch had enough. She begged Luz to give up...to settle down with her in the Human Realm, make the most of their lives together...but she couldn't. Luz wasn't ready. Could it be she was ready now? Or was this merely her biggest regret? "Luz, what are you saying?"

"I love you, Amity...and I'm sorry for everything. Goodbye."

A split second seemed to stretch out into minutes in Amity's head. Luz finally understood the Demon Realm was a lost cause. She still loved Amity, and thought this might be the last time the two of them would ever speak. If there was anything she needed to say back to her, it was now or never.

"I LOVE YOU TOO!"

Silence. The line was still open, but Luz said nothing.

"Luz? Say something, please."

"...You're just saying that."

"What?"

Luz's voice was shaking. "You're just saying that. You don't mean it. How could you POSSIBLY still mean it after all this time and after EVERYTHING I did?!"

"Because we never blamed you for any of it. The Collector, the Draining Spell...Flapjack...None of that is on you."

"I put my wild goose chase ahead of our relationship! We couldn't stay together when we needed each other most! I don't deserve your love. I don't deserve to be happy-"

"STOP SAYING THAT!" Amity had shouted Luz into silence. Fortunately, her panting was still audible on the other end of the line. "Luz...Sweetie...I'm sorry couldn't stay. You were heading down a path that I just couldn't follow anymore...but it sounds like you're...getting off that path now?"

"That is...exactly what I'm doing."

"Well," Amity gulped, "there's a new path waiting ahead of you...and it leads back to me. All you have to do is take it...Please."

There was panting and trembling on the other end of the line...followed by a quick scream.

"LUZ?!"

"AMITY!?"

"What was that?! Are you okay?!"

"Physically," Luz's voice had significantly gone up in pitch, and she was taking several quick deep breaths. "I'm fine, I just...needed to sit down. This whole conversation has been...disorienting."

Amity breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't certain what Luz had been doing up to this point, but it sounded as though the worst was over. "Yeah, I...wasn't exactly prepared for it either. It is 2 AM over here, after all."

"My bad."

"Hey, you'll be back in Gravesfield for Hunter and Willow's wedding next weekend, won't you?"

"What?" Luz went silent again, but only for a moment. "That's finally happening?!"

"You didn't know?!"

"I had no idea! Even if I did, I've been on the road so much, I'd have no way to get the invite!"

"If I had to guess, Camila's been holding onto yours. But if you wanted, I could RSVP for you...as my plus one?"

"You would...do that for me?"

"I know they'd want you there. We could go together, you and I can keep talking with a clear head, and..." Amity choked up. "...I've been hoping for a chance to see you again."

"You really mean that," Luz said as if the idea had never occurred to her.

"I've missed you so much. And if things go well enough...that offer I made in Florida might just go back on the table…when we're ready."

"Oh wow...Okay then! It's a date! Thanks a lot, Amity. You're a lifesaver."

"So, I'll see you next weekend?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

"Is that a promise?"

"I promise. I'll head back to Connecticut first thing in the morning."

"It's a long drive, so you'd better get some sleep. Can you message me when you reach Gravesfield?"

"Yeah, sure thing."

"And Luz?"

"Yeah?"

"The next time you feel too guilty, miserable, or...undeserving...go ahead and give me a call. No matter what time it is."

"You might just regret making that offer."

"I'd regret it even more if I didn't...I love you."

"I love you too. Buenas noches."

"Goodnight."