After dinner, Erica and her mother were back in the young girl's room. The witchling was showing her mother various items of interest, such as her favorite books and drawings she had created. While she had eventually grown fond of Bella and Mandrake, and was used to being left to her own devices, she rather enjoyed being the center of attention with the famous visiting witch. However, she didn't quite view her as her mother just yet. She was more like a distant cousin traveling overseas to visit extended family for the first time. Rose didn't force her affections on the child, knowing it would take time for the two of them to bond. In her heart, however, Rose yearned to hold her daughter again, remembering her tiny form swaddled to her chest. Once or twice, she resisted the urge to gently twist one of Erica's pigtails around her fingers, not wanting to make the girl uncomfortable. Despite this, however, Erica did want her family, one that seemed to be growing bit by bit, to be happy, as that would ultimately benefit her, as well. She was smart enough to know that a happy family would also result in her own happiness. And that meant the situation between Mandrake and Rose would need to be reconciled and she was eager to have him acquiesce. The sooner, the better.

Erica suggested they visit the Mandrake in his den. "He'll been in there now, for certain!" Erica took her mother's hand and walked her over to the empty space in the wall next to her vanity table. The wall was painted with white, fluffy clouds on a blue sky. "These days, he usually lets me in anytime I need him", she stated. "But I always knock to make sure he knows I'm here and that it's alright." With that, Erica raised her fist to the wall and tapped out a pattern of one knock, followed by four more in a specifically paced rhythm. Suddenly, a large oval glowed on the wall, indicating that a portal entrance had been opened. Erica led the way through the wall, leading her mother behind her, by the hand. They quickly emerged on the other side to find the Mandrake sitting on his couch, reading again. "We've come to visit you, Sir! I wanted Mum to see your den", she beamed proudly. The Mandrake put down his book and stood up to greet them. He had assumed Dearwig would bring Rose around this evening, it was just a matter of time. In fact, this was a disturbance he was hoping for, though he could never admit it out loud. Rose stared in awe at yet another amazing interior of this home, at the red, black and gold color scheme, the diamond shaped coffered ceiling and the circular, psychedelic stained glass window.

"Oh, Mandrake", she said, sounding awestruck and impressed. "This is really something. You always did have good taste." She smiled at Mandrake in that flirty manner he could rarely ignore. He stood a little taller, feeling flattered at this acknowledgement.

"Look, Mum! This is the where I first saw your face!" Erica stood next to the wall covered in photos and press clippings from the band's active days, and gestured for her mother to come and have a closer look. Rose approached the wall in disbelief, her eyes slowly taking in this vestige of her former life. To see so much of it laid out so lovingly and comprehensively made her feel both wistful and nostalgic.

"My word, look at all this…", she uttered quietly, closely examining each one. She looked at a photo taken at one of their live performances, and turned her head to look over her shoulder at the Mandrake standing several feet away, watching her.

"I remember this one," she said pointing at the picture and smiling. "That was at the Black Cat Lounge." She turned to Erica and filled her in on the memory. "We showed up there and it was the smallest stage you'd ever seen! I don't know how we all fit on it."

"We didn't", the Mandrake cut in. "I was standing down on the floor with the owner."

"That's right, so it was!", Rose acknowledged, laughing. Her tone then shifted to one of sarcasm as she raised her eyebrows in amazement. "It was a special show." Mandrake emitted a small laugh under his breath, much to Erica's surprise. "Oh, look at this one!" Rose bent downwards towards a photo of the three bandmates taken from their drive to the seashore. Bella and Rose sat on the hood of the Mandrake's yellow Citroen, laughing jovially while Mandrake stood next to them, a soft blush on his stern features. They all looked so happy. Rose remembered it well now as the images brought her memory flooding looked happy because they were happy. Rose then looked to the left of the smiling photo and saw another photo, one so small as to be almost intimate. There she saw a candid image of herself, walking the beach in solitude, the blue ocean shimmering behind her. "Mandrake, did you take this photo?"

"I did", Mandrake paused a moment before answering, tilting his head, reflectively. "It…it was such an irresistible opportunity…"He turned away slightly, his voice fading shyly. If Rose wanted an elaboration, it was unlikely she would receive it from him. Meanwhile, Erica's eyes shifted back and forth between her two parents throughout the exchange. She sensed a moment potentially developing between them and felt the sudden urge to play her hand at a little matchmaking to help facilitate things along, while also escaping the rising tension that threatened to choke the room.

"Well, look at the time!", she exclaimed rather cheekily. "I should get back to my room, it's almost my bedtime. I'll let you two catch up. Tata!" She waved her hand in a manner reminiscent of a dramatic cartoon character, hand stretched flat and bent at the wrist at an extreme right angle. Her parents looked at her a bit surprised.

"I'll come to see to off to bed in a few minutes", Rose informed her as she watched the girl step through the wall. "Our daughter is very dexterous, isn't she?", Rose asked Mandrake. Her voice contained a hint of umbrage beneath her admiration.

"Indeed", the Mandrake agreed. "Quite remarkable really, although I suppose I would expect nothing less from any child of your's. Besides, growing up in the children's home would have instilled in her a sense of independence, regardless of anything else." While the Mandrake did not intend the latter comment to sound as a slight against Rose or her choices, she felt the words sting, nonetheless.

"She tells me you have been kind to her—"

"I do what I can", he interrupted.

"And that she's been learning magic", Rose stated.

"Yes. She's a witch's daughter; she needs to learn," replied Mandrake in a very authoritative, fatherly manner. This sounded like another slight against Rose. Did he blame her for shirking her parental responsibilities? She didn't feel like arguing or fighting with him tonight. In fact, she was feeling rather regretful about the entire thing, as if everything was her fault.

"I know you've been living with a lot of….difficulties," she said, still staring at the wall of pictures. Mandrake tightened up at the mention of this. He looked away, staring at a different picture on the wall. "Erica says you transform," Rose cautiously ventured further. "And Bella is terrified of you…" At that the Mandrake's shoulders slumped forward a bit, as he looked toward the floor. Now it was his turn to feel regretful. He paused, feeling Rose look at him out the corner of her eye.

"I haven't …I haven't been very fair to her these past years. I was easily disturbed…" Rose turned away from the wall, now facing the Mandrake.

"She says you've barely spoken to her in seven years", she spoke in way that reminded him of a reprimand.

"A part of me blamed her, for driving you away. And for failing to stop you from disappearing that night…" Rose recalled the high speed chase on the motorway, with Earwig in tow.

Rose's eyes softened, and her voice gently chided him. "Perhaps it's time you forgave her."

Mandrake exhaled through his nose in a tone of resignation and gently nodded his head twice in almost reluctant agreement. Rose was right. He wasn't the only one hurting and now that she was back, it was time to rebuild broken relationships for good, and for the good of the family.

Rose stood staring at Mandrake for another moment while he continued to avoid eye contact. Talking with him now was like pulling teeth. He was so guarded, so reserved, so unwilling to truly engage that she had no idea how to reach him. She decided to resign herself from this conversation for the evening.

"Well. I need to check in on Erica. I won't disturb you any longer this evening", she offered.

"Wait", he broke in. "Where are you staying tonight?"

"I have a safe house in Crowhelm Crossing." Mandrake frowned at the mention of the neighborhood. Known in magical circles, it had a reputation for being seclusive and seedy.

"I would feel better if you stayed here", Mandrake explained, "where I can protect you, keep an eye on things—"

"That's not necessary—", Rose interrupted, not wishing to be a burden.

"Please," Mandrake insisted. "I've prepared a room for you already. Come." Feeling her hand taken for the second time that evening, Rose permitted the Mandrake to lead her through the wall of his den and into the hallway. He opened the door to the dimly lit library and they walked from one end to the other, passing walls lined with book shelves and stacks of volumes arranged haphazardly on the floor. Rose glanced around in wonderment as Mandrake opened a door on the opposite end of the room and gestured his hand to the inside. Rose stepped through and saw a medium sized room with a bed covered in a white bedspread. A black leather chair sat in the corner. It was simple, and chic and exactly the sort of room that he knew would appeal to her.

"This is lovely, but—"

"Then you'll stay. We'll see you in the morning. We take breakfast at 7:30." And with those words, he began to turn away to leave.

"Mandrake?", Rose called to him. He stopped suddenly, turning to look at her.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you." He curtly nodded and seemed to vanish into the darkness. Rose took a few moments to collect her thoughts before heading back to Erica's room to say goodnight to the girl. She knocked in the child's bedroom door.

"Come in!", a small voice called out. Rose cracked the door open and peered inside. Erica sat upright in her bed with a large mystery book.

"Are you all ready for bed now, love?", she asked.

"Yes", she yawned, "but getting tired. Will the Mandrake let you stay? Did he make a room for you?"

"Yes, actually. He made a guest room and insisted I stay, for a little while, at least." She came in and kneeled down next to her daughter's bed to speak to her more closely. Erica slumped into the bed, and let the book fall to her lap. She closed her eyes from exhaustion and smiled to herself that her wish for the Mandrake to allow Rose to stay had worked out exactly as she had wanted. Broken charm, indeed… Rose looked at the child falling asleep before her. She took the large hardcover from her lap and placed it on the side table. Murder on the Orient Express, no less. She couldn't help but smirk and gently shake her head. She then bent close to the little girl's face and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Dearwig."