Episode Eight Part Three

Though Aurora felt a portion of emotional weight dissolve from her shoulders now that she had confessed her irresolute feelings to Matthew, she remained more torn as the hours ticked by and Diana and Matthew proceeded with their training. No sooner had Diana mastered going to a part of the time by herself, than she decided she was going to begin working on how to teleport herself, Matthew, and Aurora too.

After sitting down for a while and catching up with her friends, Aurora decided to be alone for a while. Sophie and Nathanial were having a private conversation with Miriam, Marcus, and Thomas in the living room.

"You two are more than welcome to come and stay with us in Oxford," Thomas announced.

"You mean it?" Nate asked.

The two nodded.

"Anyone who's a friend of Aurora is a friend to us," Marcus smiled. "You can stay as long as you need. And I'm a doctor. I can help with the baby,"

"That would be most wonderful. Thank you," Sophie praised happily. "We're so glad Aurora made such sweet friends with you guys. She's a very dear girl,"

Marcus blushed as he thought of the girl whom he had kissed and confessed his love to. "She sure is,"

Thomas smirked. "Looks like you finally kissed the girl of your dreams,"

Marcus's face turned to normal and he glared at his brother and their friend who held goofy lip smiles.

"I smelt you guys over each other," he said. "And I could hear you two from outside. And your heart is thumping rapidly from your thoughts about her,"

Marcus turned red. "That's none of your business," he snapped.

"Come on. We all could tell you two had eyes for each other," Miriam joked. "Even I saw it myself when she kissed you goodbye in Oxford,"

"So yesterday wasn't your first kiss?" Thomas interrogated playfully.

Marcus was becoming more irritated by the minute. "Did you spy on us as we….?"

"Oh god! No!. Why in the world would I do that? Also, you two together seem to have heightened her blood pressure. It was reacting to something so powerful. It's just like Diana to father. You're uncannily swaying Aurora's gifts,"

Marcus blinked.

"Marcus…" Miriam did her best to approach him gently. "You know that you can't go with them,"

"I know," Marcus said, hanging his head down. "But she doesn't want to. And she's worried about you guys," he said to the daemons who were paralysed with fear. They couldn't bear it if Aurora got hurt trying to protect them.

"Please convince her to go with her sister and Matthew," Sophie begged. "It's not safe for her here,"

"If you truly love her Marcus, let her go," implored Nate.

Marcus inhaled deeply then exhaled. He hated to let her go but it was more painful to see her hurt than it was to be separated from her for who knows how long.

Upstairs Matthew and Diana consorted about Aurora and where her role in their fight should take place.

"We can't leave her here," Diana walked in circles around their bed.

"What good would walking around in circles do?" Matthew asked. Diana stopped and stood in front of him. "Diana…I know how much you disagree with this…"

"You should have seen how cruel Peter Knox looked when he cast that spell on her? And what if Marcus hadn't arrived on time to save her after Gillian knocked her out?" Diana's forehead fell into her fingers and she rubbed them frantically. "We know what they're capable of. What if leaving her means she could be harmed again? Or worse?!" her voice dropped and a tear fell down her cheek.

"She is uncertain because she feels she has duties for others. She is afraid for her friends and she doesn't want to abandon them,"

Diana understood why. Nathanial and Sophie meant so much to her. And so did their unborn child. "But your sons and Miriam could protect them. Couldn't they?"

"I heard them downstairs. Sophie and Nathanael will be under their protection in Oxford. But it's not just them, she doesn't want to leave," Matthew added in. He'd been waiting for this conversation but he didn't need to say it verbally.

Diana knew who else leaving behind would ache Aurora's heart so painfully it would affect even the magnitude of her magic. How could I ever take that away from her? She said to herself. "I've always been there for her. Her entire life. When she felt so alone and had no one to turn to. Before we found the Book, I always thought it was just going to be the two of us in our perfect careers in Oxford, but since discovering it, since meeting you…and your family….it seems like things are not as they used to be,"

"That's because the world is changing so fast," reminded Matthew. He stood up and approached her affectionately taking her hands. "I hate her to be in danger too. But know this. There comes a time when we have to let our loved ones go and make their own choices,"

"But why should she stay here and face danger whilst we go to safety in the past?"

"Because like us she has a particular role in this fight. Perhaps it is in this time and not where we will go. And even if she did come, where we go could put her in even greater danger. There may be many creatures like Anna where we go. And if they are feared by the Congregation in this time then they will be feared in the past,"

"But if we left her here, who would protect her?"

"My sons. Miriam. Your aunts. And she is more powerful than you think she is. And knowing Peter Knox, he may yet keep her existence hidden so no one else will hunt her down. If otherwise, Agatha and the daemons will ensure she has not been harmed in any way and will not call for her persecution,"

Diana remained stubborn about the matter. I must talk to my sister.

Marcus came to Aurora outside again as she was leaning against a tree. "Thomas and I have asked your friends if they want to stay with us in Oxford. We told them we could provide them safety,"

Aurora was elated. "Thank you," she sniffled.

"You don't have to worry about them. They'll be safe with us,"

"Marcus…"

"Aurora please…you're not safe at this time. I want you to be safe. You don't need to worry about us at all. Just take care of yourself. And Diana and Matthew. I heard you talking to him. Even he wouldn't agree with this,"

Aurora remained at loss for words. But in her heart, she was beginning to see that perhaps she had no choice at all. Even if this choice wasn't without its tears, she knew that it would hurt him more to see her harmed than it was to be separated from her. "Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll keep my friends safe,"

"I will," Marcus vowed with a gravelly voice.

Aurora smacked her lips against his and they held one another's cheeks. For a few seconds, they felt out of this world as they smooched but the loud sound of a cough pulled them apart. They twisted their head and saw an unamused pair of faces. Diana and Matthew were standing right before them.

The couple was shocked "Oh my," Aurora felt very anxious.

"How long have you two been standing there?" Marcus asked, flabbergasted that he would be talking with his father and new mate about this.

"The whole time," Matthew answered. "Even you didn't notice we were approaching,"

Marcus felt so awkward. He had been too focused on his emotional moment with Aurora that he didn't sense his father or Diana approaching them.

Aurora stood up, facing her sister. "Before you give me the talk sis…"

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she spoke up.

Aurora was startled by the question. "Do what?"

Diana approached her gently. "I don't want to leave you behind. But I don't want to burden you with having to leave someone you love," she showed a glance of acceptance at Marcus. "And I know how much your friends mean to you, how you want to protect them,"

Aurora's lips but no words came out. She didn't know what to say to her sister. She hadn't prepared for this at all. She had hoped Matthew's words were enough to make her see how torn apart she was with such a difficult choice.

"Aurora…I just want you to be safe," Diana took her hands. "But I will support your decision, whatever you decide," Her eyes reflected the fear but also the solace she held for her sister. With all that was reflected in her unconditional love and from Matthew and Marcus's supporting faces, Aurora made the most difficult she made in her entire life.

The next day whilst Diana and Matthew continued their training, Aurora sat in the living room with Nate and Sophie telling them what she had chosen.

"You really sure you want to do this?" Nate asked, fear painting his pale face.

"I have to guys. I'd never forgive myself if anything happen to you two and your baby. Besides my instincts are telling me I must stay behind. My role in this fight is here at this time,"

"As long as you're sure," spoke Sophie.

"I'm sure. But if I can be honest, I know being away from my sister again will be so painful," Aurora confessed.

Sarah and Em joined them. "Why don't we carve some pumpkins together?" Sarah offered.

"You always loved to do that as a kid," Em reminded their youngest niece of the happy days they had at Halloween.

Aurora nodded. They went outside and they got together on carving pumpkins for Halloween. Marcus joined them outside giving Aurora a kiss on the cheek.

Sarah coughed and he awkwardly backed away off the porch stairs to the log pile on the gravel.

Sarah noticed Aurora glaring at her. "What? Since you two are in a relationship now, you've got to keep it slow and not fast,"

"Well Nate and I are really happy for you two," Sophie praised her dear friend.

"Thank you," Aurora said appreciatively.

"Don't you dare break her heart," Nate warned Marcus, stepping down to him.

"Never in a million years," Marcus vowed. Soon they got into a conversation about the Covenant's laws and how Nate believed they shouldn't apply today now that times had changed.

"It's good for Nate to have someone to talk to. He wants to change the world. But it's hard to do that on your own," Sophie said.

"You're right. This is why I'm glad we've all come together. Look at all of us. Three daemons. Three witches. Three vampires. And a creature like me. We're our own congregation. We want the opposite of what the Congregation wants,"

Sophie nodded but she kept her head down.

"What's wrong Sophie?" Aurora asked.

"I couldn't sleep last night. I heard you crying in that bathroom," Em notified.

"Please tell us," Aurora implored.

Sophie breathed in slowly. "I'm in a room with my baby," she touched her baby bump which began to sprout out under her jumper. "I hear footsteps too. I fear it's the Congregation coming for me and my baby,"

"Oh Sophie," Aurora hugged her tightly. "No harm will come to you or Nate or your child whilst I draw breath,"

"You're under our protection," the witches promised too.

Nate and Marcus enjoyed chopping blocks together.

Marcus chopped a log straight in half.

"How did you do that?" Nate asked in amazement.

"Couple hundred years practice. You wanna go?" Marcus challenged holding an axe.

"I'll stick to computers," Nate decided. He heard his phone ringing and pulled it out. In a minute he finished and walked up to his wife and close friend.

"What is it, Nate?" Aurora asked.

"It was my mum. She's heading to Venice. The Congregation is coming back together again,"

The news unsettled everyone.

"Then Matthew and Diana must leave soon," Marcus said sadly, looking despondent over to his girlfriend who pursed her lips.

"Since we'll only be together for a while longer, I'm gonna prepare us all a nice feast," she decided.

"I'll help you," Marcus stepped up.

"Thanks," she said. They walked inside the kitchen and Aurora pulled out some pots and pans. Together they baked some stew, fried vegetables, cut raw meat, poured out wine and laid it all together on a well-neat table. The preparation brought them closer together. Once it was all set, Marcus leaned forward giving her a sweet kiss. He just couldn't help but crave the touch of her lips.

"All right. All right. Get a room," the voice of Diana interrupted them. They turned and saw Matthew and Diana standing near the stairs with straight lips but flashed faces.

"You have got to stop doing that," Aurora said.

Diana shook her head.

"Dinner's ready everyone!" Marcus called.

Everyone entered the room. They were awed by their magnificent cooking.

"Amazing," Sophie praised.

"I'm impressed with your handy cooking work again Aurora," added Matthew.

"I can't take all the credit. Marcus helped out," Aurora wouldn't take all the credit.

"Anyways how was training?" Thomas asked, changing the conversation before it could get awkward.

Diana and Matthew told them about going back nearly a month ago to the night they had dinner together with Ysabeau, the night that Domenico invaded the grounds and warned them of breaking the Covenant.

"How did it go?" Thomas asked.

"It went well like a charm," answered Diana happily.

"Did you guys tell Ysabeau that you were from this time?" Marcus asked curiously.

"We did," Matthew said. "Dancing with her was worth it,"

"You said goodbye to Ysabeau?" Em asked.

"We did,"

"And we made it back just in time for supper," Diana said taking a chew. "I'm so glad we're eating your cooking sis,"

"It will be our last supper. For a long while anyway," Aurora sounded despondent. Even Diana felt a clench in her heart growing too,"

"Come on Nate!" Marcus complained.

"I'm not letting you guys anywhere near my baby's DNA!" retorted the soon-to-be father daemon.

"Don't you want to know if your child's a witch or a daemon?" challenged Miriam.

Sophie nodded. "I do,"

"I think it's a great idea," approved Hamish.

"So do I," Aurora beamed. "The more we know, the more we'll be able to protect her," she slowly stood up earning their attention. "I'd like to propose a toast. To uncommon but happy friendships,"

"To uncommon but happy friendship," the crowd chanted. They all drank wine or water from their glasses.

"And I say we propose a toast to the couple who brought us all together," Thomas glanced at Matthew and Diana. "To Matthew and Diana,"

Everyone repeated his toast and Diana and Matthew held bright smiles.

"And let's hold another toast to another couple. Aurora and Marcus," Nate toasted.

The new couple awkwardly avoid sharing glances and hid their flushed faces. Dinner ended and Hamish and Matthew went to a living room. Miriam, Thomas, Marcus, and Sophie talked together about how they were going to analyse the DNA of the future baby. Meanwhile, Aurora, Diana and their aunts conversed outside.

Another chapter is done. Just one more chapter to go and it's the end of Season One. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. See you all soon.