Sliding off the furry horned creature, Edric's black boots thudded against the ground. He took a few steps towards me, out of the shadows, then straightened his back and puffed out his chest. The sight shook me on the inside. Great titan, he looked like his father so much it made my heart ache.

"Merry Christmas" he greeted. I just stared at him, confusedly. Was I supposed to know what that meant? "Ah shit! I mean Happy Holidays! Gotta be inclusive, you know".

"Edric. I have no clue what you're going on about".

"Neither do I half the time, but that hasn't stopped me" he joked. "So did dad or Em tell you why I'm here?".

"You're here to show me the present, however that works".

"Sort of. I'll actually be taking you a few days back".

"Ah yes" I mocked with a raise of my brow. "Just like your sister did".

"Not "just like my sister did"!" he argued, rather confidently. "I'll be taking you to the human realm!".

"Really?" I hmmed. "What's so fascinating about the human realm that I absolutely have to see".

"You'll see it when we get there" he scolded while rolling his golden eyes.

Edric whistled for the deer he rode in on, who was trying to reach the foliage hanging for the ceiling. Obediently, it strode up to my son and laid down on its stomach. He carefully touched its neck, then moved his hand to scratch behind its ear. It let out a moan before Edric gave it a few pats.

"That a girl".

"Why the deer?" I questioned while Edric climbed onto her back.

"It's a Christmas thing".

"You keep saying that as if I know what that is".

"Christmas is a human holiday". The younger witch offered me his hand, but I was able to make it on the beast without it. "Something about a baby born in a barn and a man that breaks into houses".

"And why should I care about some stupid human tradition?".

"It's the reason we're here. Apparently, there's some movie about a money loving man getting visited by ghosts on Christmas". Edric kicked, making the deer rise from the floor. "Let me show you".

The beast suddenly shot towards the window and crashed through it. On the other side, instead of the red grass and purple sky, the ground was covered in snow and the air was frozen. The road was not made from the dirt I was used to, but was made of paved black stone. There were yellow lines painted in the middle, and these hard-shelled carts surrounded it.

The houses all around us were ridden with multi-colored lights. Outside of some of them, were also balloons shaped like the deer I was sitting on, along with a bearded fat man in red and sleighs. In front of a couple were figures of humans and animals alike laying in front of a baby resting in straw.

Edric slipped down, careful not to land on any ice on the ground, then offered me his hand once again. Just like last time, I didn't take it. I was able to get down on my own. My son led me to the house directly in front of us, to a window on the side of it. We both peered in to see there was a party going on inside. My three children were in attendance along with Amity's friends, the owl lady, and a woman I guessed was Luz's mother. The former were all watching something on a flat crystal ball-like device, while the latter were playing some poker.

"A family gathering" I muttered under my breath. "Been a while since I've seen one of those".

"There's a reason for that mom. We aren't exactly done being hurt from—".

"Yes, yes. Your sister gave me the whole spiel".

A knock at the door made Luz bound to her feet. With an uncalculated and botched jump, she leapt over the arm of the couch and slid to the front door. Waiting on the other side was a tall pale witch. A streak of gray hair was streamed across her curly ginger hair, and one of her blue eyes was duller and partially gray.

"Aunt Lilith" Luz greeted. "I'm glad to see you've made it".

"I wouldn't miss your weird human tradition for the world" she hmmed back as she hung her coat up on the coat rack beside her. "Have I missed anything?".

"Eda and my mom are in the kitchen playing cards, and the rest of us are watching Christmas movies".

"Playing cards, huh".

"Yeah. From the sounds of it, I think Eda's losing".

"It seems she's not as good at cheating as she used to be. I suppose I should go see".

"Why are you showing me this, Edric?" I questioned from beside him.

"You see the tv we're all watching?". My confused stare made him point towards the flat thing with the moving pictures. It was a movie that took place somewhere snowy.

There was an old man and a much larger man in the same outfit Edric was in both standing in front of a window watching a scene just like this one. "The older guy is work obsessed and money hungry. Sound familiar?".

"And he's visited by his family who'd been shunning him for years?".

"You're making it sound like we're the ones who don't care, but if we didn't, we wouldn't be here".

"What's the matter, hermosa?" the human cooed to my youngest, who was sitting beside her. She lifted her head from her girlfriend's shoulder, her lavender hair slightly ruffled.

"Nothing" Amity began before adding, "It's just, all this talk about money's bringing back some…foul memories".

"Scrooge is basically a human version of mom," Emira chimed in while leaning against the back of the couch.

"No. I'm pretty sure this guy hasn't made weapons for dictator's before" the fake Edric argued. "Or partaken in a mass genocide".

"Well, what else could I have done?" I gnarled. "Told him to just kill–".

"They can't hear you" the real Edric jumped in. "Or see you".

"You can hear me" I spat once again. A feeling of deja vu hung on my shoulders.

"Didn't Emira talk to you about that?".

"Yes but–".

"Then I don't have to".

The show everyone was watching went to commercial break, something about insurance for the machines outside. The conversation about me continued, now that everyone's attention was away from the tv.

"You know the ghost thing would never work on mom" Emira laughed while taking a seat on the arm of the couch. "She'd probably just find a way to extort money from them".

"I don't know. It might work" Luz hmmed as she swam through her thoughts. All three of my children stared at her incredulously.

"No, Luz," Amity barked. "Don't even think it".

"She's not like the rest of us," Emira added. "She's not just some bully. You can't fix her the way you did Mittens".

"Like I said," fake Edric reminded. "She worked with Belos".

"And what about Lilith and Hunter?" Luz pushed. "They worked with Belos, and they're fine now".

"We didn't know Belos was planning a genocide" the former golden guard argued.

"But what about the palisman you gave him to devour, or the wild witches you brought him to petrify?".

Hunter was silent. His brown eyes could no longer stay on the human, or anyone else. Instead, they fell to the ground in surrender. Willow placed her hand on his back in comfort. For a moment I thought she would reprimand her human friend for opening such tender wounds. What she said instead surprised me.

"It's reasonable that you guys don't want to forgive your mom. She was horrible and has hurt the three of you really badly. That's enough to not want anything to do with her. But l used to think Hunter, Lilith, and Amity were all selfish monsters too. Hunter stole the key from my friend and had even threatened to boil said friend in the sea. Lilith had nearly gotten her sister killed after being the one who cursed her. And Amity…I think we all know what Amity's done. And look at us now".

"She hurt you too, Willow," the latter pressed. "She nearly ruined your life at Hexide TWICE. Have you forgiven her? ".

"Not yet" the shorter raven-haired witch admitted cooly. "But if she ever wants to try, I'll consider it".

"Like that's ever going to happen" Emira scoffed. "Mom wouldn't admit she made a mistake to save her own life".

"A few years ago neither would I" a new voice chimed in from behind the couch. Taking a break from the game going on in the other room, the former head coveness joined everyone in front of the tv. She kept her tone firm yet delicate, despite the shame flowing through her veins. "We both trusted Belos to reward us for that sort of behavior. We were all wrong".

"She always did say she was doing it for the family" Emira hmphed with a roll of her eyes. "If only she knew the kind've damage she was causing".

"What if we showed her…" Amity suddenly murmured. She was deep in thought, scouring her mind for ideas. "...Just like the ghosts in the movie".

"Do you really think she'll listen?".

"Not in the slightest, but Luz is right. Mom's still a witch, one who has their own motives and feelings. There's a tiny chance she'll change, that she'll start acting like an actual mother". Amity closed her eyes and flicked her ear towards her two siblings. Her voice got lowered to a murmur. "I won't ask either of you guys to do it. You've been hurt by mom enough, and all that could end with you getting hurt even more".

I was actually holding my breath, internally begging for my two other children to say something. I knew both the twins would say yes, yet I had no clue what either would answer.

"Luz" Emira finally hmmed. "You've been a part of the family drama for a few years now. Do you think mom'll turn a new leaf?".

"It will take a lot. Odalia is scarily stubborn. But if three ghosts can make a nasty businessman like Scrooge change, then we can get a nasty buisnesswitch like Odalia change too!".

"Then I'm willing to try, even if this plan is totally going to fail" fake Edric added excitedly.

Everyone's gazes then turned towards Emira. She stayed silent except for the growl caught in her throat. All over again, I saw her tending to her younger sister's wounds after she was attacked in the library. I saw her lift Edric out of the well as he badly bled and drag his broken body all the way to Hexide. And based on her anger, there was much more circling her mind that I didn't know about.

Her words echoed in my head like the ringing in both of my ears. "For once, choose us!".

"Okay" she relented. "I'm with you"

"Why would she say yes?" I mumbled to myself. Suddenly Edric gave me a quick pat on the back.

"That's why" he purred slickly. "Looks like we haven't abandoned you, huh?".

"I haven't seen you for years".

"And it would be even longer had we not come here today. Now c'mon! We've still got to go see dad".

As if it were on cue, the deer was at our side. She crouched down onto the snow-covered ground, allowing us both onto her back. Edric was the first one up and offered his hand to me once again. And, once again, I didn't take it. I didn't notice it, but Edric's ears went flat as frustration snuffed his good mood for a quick moment.

With one quick kick, the deer shot into the air. When it landed back onto the ground we were no longer in the human realm. Instead, we were someplace much worse. I ached at the sight of my old home, despite the manor still being in good shape. Knowing that I'd never step foot in it again after spending so many days there still felt too odd.

In front of the front door, everyone from the previous scene was gathered there. My three children were in their costumes, though Amity kept her face hidden with a thick dark shroud. The deer we were on was next to them eating the grass on the ground. Willow, Gus, Hunter, and Luz were gathered together, the latter going on about how the plan was totally foolproof. That's when my husband walked outside, bearing the same bunch of chains he did when he visited me. Once the group saw him, they all began to walk. We followed them on the deer, hanging near the back where the past Edric and Alador chose to walk.

"Are you ready?" Alador questioned.

"As I'll ever be" the fake Edric answered, the joy that stuck to him now not being present.

"You don't seem as excited as you were earlier".

"I've just been thinking," he admitted while rubbing the back of his neck. His matching golden gaze met his father's. "Why did you say yes? Do you really think this plan will work?".

"I didn't say yes because I'd think this would work".

"You don't think this'll work? Like not even a little". Alador shook his head.

"It would be nice if it did, but I've known your mother since before you three were born. And that woman I fell in love with has slowly deteriorated into a monster over the years".

"But you loved her once?". "I still love her now". That made my breath hitch, made my heart stop. Ever since he left I had thought that Alador wanted nothing to do with me. "But loving her has gotten too tough over the years. I have to let her go". "So you're here for us?" the fake Edric prodded.

"I'm here because I've failed".

"Failed what?".

"To let her go".

At that moment, the real Edric turned around and touched me on the shoulder. He pulled my attention to him, no longer so jovial. It took a moment of preparation, but he finally spoke.

"We haven't given up on you. We want to be your family, but you've forced us away. If you open yourself to us, we'd all come back. You wouldn't be lonely if you choose to have your family instead of success".

Not wanting to respond to my son, I said nothing for the rest of the walk. Instead, I silently listened to all the chattering and the sound of footsteps. This was the first time I had really been around anyone other than the rare businesswitch or stand owner. I had missed having a family. I still loved them, just like Alador had said. But something from deep inside of me still argued. All the bad memories of our family fighting, of my childrens' scorn and my husband's betrayal. Could I really push all that to the side?

Finally, Luz turned around and began to walk backwards. It was a wonder she didn't trip with how fast she was going.

"Alright guys! Get ready to get into position. After Alador goes, Emira will make her entrance. So, Gus, Edric, get your magic ready!".

"What should I say again?" Alador hollered. "We didn't really discuss my part at the meeting".

"Tell her what you told me" the past Edric suggested confidently.

"I can't tell her I don't think this plan will work".

"Not that part. Tell her the part about it getting harder to love her over the years. I mean, we're supposed to show her the error of her ways after all".

"No" Luz jumped in. "Actually. Why don't you show her, Edric. You think you can make an illusion of your conversation?".

"You know it" he shouted just as everyone arrived outside my bedroom window.

The deer leapt through the window it broke, back into my room. Edric jumped down and offered me his hand one final time. I took it. The younger witch pulled me to the floor, helping me keep my balance as I landed. Once we were face to face again, he smiled softly at me.

"What do you think? We can cut all this short and go outside. You can apologize and–".

"No" I suddenly spat, making my son pause. With a sigh out I softened my voice. "I want to hear what Amity has to say".

My response actually made Edric relax. He simply nodded before mounting the deer one last time. He waved at me as the creature scuffed at the wooden floor below it.

"Bye, mom. After tonight, I'm confident I'll see you again soon". With one more giant leap, he was gone. I was left alone with the silence. I had a few minutes to think before my final child arrived.

As the clock chimed three times, frost began to spread from the corner of the room. A windy squall sent a chill up my spine and covered my sight. Soon all I could see the flurry of flakes in front of me.

Suddenly the snowstorm ceased and revealed a figure in a black hood. Her golden eyes were deeply sunken yet glimmered like stars. Different bright white streaks were painted onto her face, making it look like a skull. Her glower was strong, piercing me like a knife.

Amity was here, and so was all her anger.