Day: 7

Prompt: Halloween

(Oct 30th: 1 year after the Belos was defeated)

Luz was currently walking home from school. It had been around a year since the Isles had been saved from Belos' reign. During that year Luz, her friends, family, and other citizens of the Boiling Isles were all chipping in to help rebuild it. Thanks to the Collector creating a new portal, Luz can go back and forth between worlds whenever she wants. Now and then her thoughts would go back to that day almost one full year ago. Flapjack dying, The Collectors apocalypse, Her friends and mother being puppetized, and Belos killing her. Needless to say, she still had some trauma, not sleeping well, and having nightmares. It also didn't help that it was close to Halloween so everywhere she looked reminded her of it. She had been talking to her friends and family about it, and they've been helping in any way they can. She had been doing a bit better until recently.

"I'm home!" Luz yelled as she walked through the front door. When she walked into the living room, she saw her mom, Vee, and friends going through some boxes. King was also helping Eda with hanging decorations.

"Welcome home, Luz." Gus greeted.

"What is everyone doing?" Luz asked.

"Well, we thought we'd all get together for Halloween again this year." Willow replied, "You know, make up for last year."

Luz swallowed hard, "Uh, but what about helping rebuild the Isles? Won't everyone need us to help?"

"Darius and Raine will make sure repairs and reconstruction continue, kid. No worries." Eda reassured her.

King added, "And the Collector is helping… Lilith is making sure they do anything too drastic."

"Mija," Camila chimed in, "You've been spending all your free time helping, you should rest and have fun."

Luz looked at her feet and hands as they started shaking, "I… you guys can go. I'm not really into this year. Have fun, okay? I have homework to finish."

Luz turned and started storming up to her room.

"Luz, wait!" Willow tried to stop her but to no avail.

"Cammy, Luz always finishes her homework while at school. Both for Hexside and Gravesfield High." Eda tells Camila. She knows Luz is a smart and gifted kid and she could finish her homework in a matter of minutes or one hour.

"I know," Camila replies.

Luz laid in her bed for what seemed like 3 hours. Camila would try to talk to her but Luz wouldn't respond. She felt bad that she turned her friends down, even turning down Eda and King but she just couldn't do it. Suddenly she heard a knock at the door.

"Luz?" She heard Amity from the other side, "Can I come in?"

Luz thought about it for a brief second and got up, "Sure."

Amity walked in, and she and Luz shared a hug, "How was your day, sweet potato?"

"It was fine, but that's not what I want to talk about," Amity replied, knowing Luz was trying to avoid the topic.

Luz looked at her in silence and nodded. Part of her was expecting Amity to scold her for storming out on her friends and surrogate family. Instead, she felt her girlfriend's soft hand touch her face.

"Your mom told me what happened earlier, what's wrong? That wasn't like you…"

Luz took a deep breath and let it out, "I just don't feel up to it this year, that's all."

Amity gave Luz a somewhat stern look, "Luz… please tell me the truth, I know you're hiding something from me." Amity said, knowing when her girlfriend wasn't telling her everything.

Luz sighed, "After last year…" Luz stopped talking.

Amity understood, "Halloween. It brought back memories from last year, didn't it?

"Yes!" Luz exclaimed and started walking back and forth, "It makes me think about getting you all stuck here! It makes me think about what happened to Flapjack! It makes me think about The Collector taking you from me, turning you all into puppets, and using you against me! Makes me think back to Belos… killing me. It-" Luz's voice begins to break as tears start forming, her legs start shaking, her knees grow weak, and her breathing gets heavier.

"Luz!" Amity grabs Luz's shoulders, stopping her from both walking around and talking, and helps her back to the bed to sit down, "Calm down batata!"

Luz did as Amity told her.

Amity held a finger up, "Breathe in…" Luz took a deep breath. Amity counts to five, "Let it out." Luz did just that and slowly let her breath out. "Better?"

Luz nodded, "Yeah, a bit anyway."

Amity gave Luz a soft smile and sat next to her, "That's good. Continue."

Luz continued, "Ever since that night, Halloween has been nothing more but a memory of what happened. The pain, the anger, the trauma, the loss, the agony, the death, everything. I know it's been a year and I've been talking to every one of you about it, but…" Luz paused for a second, "Amity, for almost an entire year since that night, I can't sleep well! The pain was too much, and when I woke up it felt like it was getting harder to breathe or even move. It felt like I was dead again. Or worse."

Amity put her hand on Luz's knee, "I thought you were doing better?"

"It kind of comes and goes, but lately, it's just been worse."

Amity grabbed Luz's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "It's okay Luz, we don't have to do anything for Halloween if you don't want to…" Even though she knew that this was unhealthy for Luz she didn't want to force her.

Luz placed her head on Amity's shoulders, "No, I need to get over this; plus, I don't want to ruin everyone's Halloween."

Amity smiled at her, "You sure?"

Luz shook her head, "No, I'm not. But I need to try."

"Then don't go, mija." They heard Camila say from the door. She had actually been standing behind the wall for some time.

"Mom? How much did you hear?"

"I heard it all, mija," Camila admitted, "I'm sorry, I was walking by, and I just happened to hear you girls talking."

"It's fine, mama," Luz reassured Camila.

"Luz." Amity started to speak again, "Camila is right, you shouldn't force yourself to do it if you're not ready. Trust me."

Camila walks in and sits on the other side of Luz, "I understand if you're not feeling up to it and I'm sure everyone else will too."

"Thanks, mama," Luz turns to Amity, "Amity, will you stay over tonight?"

"Sure! We can watch the new Azura movie, that might help you get your mind off of things." Amity then looked at Camila, "Of course, that's only if you're okay with it Camila?"

Camila nodded, "Of course, Amity." Any other parent would say no but Camila trusted Amity, she knew her and Luz wouldn't do anything stupid.

"Will you not tell the others?" Luz asked her mother, "I'd rather tell them myself, if that's okay."

"Of course, Luz." Camila replied back.

"Thanks Mom."

Camila hugs both Luz and Amity before closing the door and heading downstairs to continue helping the others with the Halloween decorations.

Luz looks at Amity and holds her hands, "And thank you sweet potato. Thank you for staying with me."

"Anything for my fearless champion." Amity replied back softly.

That night Luz and Amity cuddled on Luz's bed watching the new Azura movie and fell asleep shortly after. Luz eventually would get better over time thanks to her family, friends, and the love of her life.

(I'm sorry that this one took me almost a week to post. Real life got involved. Thank you for your patience. I won't be writing again for a bit but next time I do i will be back with After The Happily Ever After but I do at some point want to do some Non Owl house stuff, maybe some nsfw stores and don't worry if I do nsfw it won't be owl house related to will be for more mature series. Thanks for reading!)