#also i wanna punch luz in the face with kindness i wanna shake her so hard

[loverboybrightsideghost]

i need to kill belos immediately <3

[rohad93]

Moonlit Masquerade: Fall Showers

Part 8 of the Moonlit  Masquerade Series

She hears about it at the market on Monday after school.

Amity has to go home straight after school, so Luz teleports herself to the market, in no rush today to head straight home. She's browsing a stand, looking over an assortment of magical trinkets curiously when she happens to overhear two people standing nearby talking.

"So are you taking her to the 'fall shower' tomorrow night?" One asks.

"She'd never let me hear the end of it if I don't. It's the 'most romantic thing a couple can do together'," the other quotes, rolling his eyes.

Luz pays closer attention to those words.

"Girls are so sappy…," the first chuckles and they walk off.

Luz hums to herself and finishes her browsing before hurrying home to ask Eda about this 'fall shower'.

Her pseudo mom is strewn haphazardly across the couch with a magazine laying open over her face when she gets home.

"Hey, Eda!" she calls when she bursts through the door.

"What?" she grumbles, but otherwise doesn't move from the couch.

"What's the 'fall shower'?" she asks as she sets her bag on the floor by the door.

She reached up and pulled the magazine down to her nose to regard Luz with tired, dual-colored eyes.

"Where'd you hear about that?" she asks, voice muffled by the magazine still sitting halfway on her face.

"In town, some guys were talking about it being some big romantic thing," she says. Eda grunts, head lolling to the side to better look at her.

"Yeah, it's a couple… thing." She waved a hand, before pulling the magazine back up over her eyes.

"That didn't tell me anything…" Luz frowned at her.

"Go ask Lily." is the muffled reply.

"Ask me what?" Lilith chose that moment to walk into the living room, some books held under her arm.

"What's the ‘fall shower’?" Luz turns to her.

"Ahh, you heard about that." Lilith smiles, walking over to the couch and using the books to sweep Eda's feet out of the seat on the end to sit.

Eda grumbles, shooting her sister a dirty look as she sits up.

"The Fall Shower is a meteor shower that takes place around this time each year," Lilith explained as she arranged herself on the couch.

"So, what makes it so romantic?"

"The legend behind it is that long ago two lovers, kept apart by circumstance would meet under cover of night, only once a year to be together, and after many years of this, and watching it, the Titan was so moved by their dedication and love, that it made the very sky weep," she gladly explained while Eda rolled her eyes.

"It's a bunch of sappy gobble de gook," Eda gruffed but frowned when she saw Luz was looking at Lilith with wide, starry eyes.

"That sounds awesome!"

"It's a widely watched event by lovers all across the Isles. Specifically from the Eastern forest where the lovers were said to meet," Lilith finishes happily. Luz is always willing to listen and learn from her, which does do something for her ego and the teacher in her.

"You and Amity gonna go?" Eda asks, cocking her head curiously.

"Oh… I dunno…" luz hesitates.

"Why not?”

"We're together but we're not… ya know…," she says, waving a hand, cheeks pink. She finds it hard to say that word. Eda gives her a wicked grin.

"You love each other dont'cha?" She cocked her head, smirking  "You're lovers." It took everything the owl lady had to keep a straight face as she said this, but it broke the second Luz began to turn crimson.

"That's not what the word…. 'lovers' implies, and you know it!" Luz squeaks, red-faced as she finally gets the word out.  Eda threw her head back and laughed maniacally.

Sometimes she forgot that Luz was still pretty innocent by most counts.

"It's an event many couples go to, regardless of their… um, stage of relationship" Lilith tries to supply helpfully. "It's quite beautiful, I would recommend it."

"You've been?" Luz and Eda both ask, surprised.

Luz watches in fascination as the former coven leader's face tints pink.

"I have," she says.

"With who?" Eda is looking at her, grinning.

"Never you mind!" Lilith growls. "The point is, regardless of the state of your relationship, it's something worth seeing."

"I'll ask her tomorrow." Luz nods.

She picks up her bag and heads upstairs, listening to Eda prod at her sister.

"Come on, who was it?"

"I'm not telling you!"

"Was it that snot nose boy from the bard track you had the hots for?"

"Edalyn!"

Luz just laughs to herself.

~

Tuesday, she's sitting next to Amity in class and the teacher has stepped out to see to something, so Luz takes the opportunity to slide a note across the table to her.

Amity looks at the folded slip of paper with a cocked brow before looking up at her, but Luz is carefully not looking at her.

'You busy tonight?'

Her eyebrow arches higher at that.

'No, why?' she slides it back.

'Wanna go somewhere with me?' it reads when she's passed it back.

'Where?'

She can practically hear her girlfriend's wary tone in the written words and grins.

'The eastern forest.' she's being intentionally vague and Amity knows it.

"Why?" She finally just whispers and Luz shakes her head making a 'shhhing' motion and Amity makes an annoyed sound and simply pushes the paper back to her. Luz can sense she's quickly reaching the end of her girlfriend's patience for her game and jots down a reply before sliding it back.

'Want to go watch the 'fall shower' with me?'

Amity's head whips up to look at her with wide eyes the second she finishes processing the words on the paper, looking at Luz, who is looking back at her, both brows raised in silent question.

"The…" she starts but manages to stop herself, remembering where they are and starts scribbling furiously on the paper before shoving it back.

'The fall shower? How do you even know what that is?'

'Heard some guys at the market talking about it. So, mi amor, up for a romantic night under the stars?'

Amity pursed her lips, glancing at Luz out of the corner of her eye and she feels herself smile when she sees Luz looking at her in that adoring way that is much too telling of a way for school.

She hesitates a moment before putting something down and pushing it back.

'It's a school night.' is her weak argument.

'so?'

She shoots Luz a look but she only grins back.

'Okay'

"Passing notes in my class, Miss. Noceda?" The professor returned while they weren't looking, his abomination looming over their table. "On principle, all notes are read aloud in my class." He holds his tiny hand out for the paper.

Luz glances at Amity, who's gone pale as a ghost, gold eyes filled with panic and fear at the declaration.

Knowing the nature of their relationship is written plainly on the paper for all to potentially hear, Luz makes a desperate decision and shoves it into her mouth.

The teacher and the whole class look at her with wide eyes and hanging mouths, including Amity as she chews it, wincing at the sharp edges. It's the longest hand full of seconds ever as the whole class watches her eat a piece of paper.

But Luz is nothing if not committed and swallows, eyes watering.

"No, sir," she rasps. "No notes here."

"Well then… on with the lesson…,"  he says numbly at what he'd just witnessed and returns to the front of the class.

Amity is still looking at her with wide, unbelieving eyes.

Let it never be said that Luz Noceda wouldn't do whatever it took to protect her girlfriend, whether it be eating a punch or a piece of paper.

She grins, though it looks queasy, and Amity slaps her palm against her forehead.

~

"You ate it?" Gus says disbelieving at lunch but then turns thoughtful. "Do humans usually eat paper?" he asks curiously.

"No, no, they do not…" Luz makes a face and smacks her lips. She can still taste it, paper on the Isles tastes different. Willow has her head in her hand and is shaking it.

"I'm torn between calling you an idiot and finding it endearing that you ate it, so it wouldn't be read out loud," Amity mumbles.

"Yo también te quiero." Luz winks and Amity grins back at her. The way they're looking at each other makes Willow sigh.

"You two have been kind of bold lately. You've got to be more careful at school," she mumbles. "Unless you like eating paper…" She looks at Luz, exasperated. Her friends are too much sometimes, on a good day, much less when they're being all… coupley. They're sitting in the back corner of the cafeteria, Luz and Amity sitting against the wall so no one can see them holding hands under the table

"She's right," Amity says quietly, and Luz sighs.

"I know." She mopes. "There's just not enough time in the day…," Luz laments and Amity squeezes her hand under the table.

Gus and Willow share a look. They feel for their friends, they really do, the two just want to be so sickeningly in love whenever they're together. Even though they don't want to be subjected to it all the time, they also wish their friends could just be a couple in public.

"Well, fall break is coming up, that's a whole week off coming up soon." Gus piped up helpfully.

"That's true, we'll have to all hang out together during the break," Willow suggests and the couple was quick to agree as they discussed possible plans for the coming break.

~

It's well and dark when Luz pulls on her new Hexside hoodie. An apology offering from the twins after she'd bled all over the other one, and steps out the door with Owlbert on her shoulder and the staff in hand.

"Be careful, and have fun," Eda calls.

"I will. love you!" she calls, closing the door.

"Ready, buddy?" She smiles and the palisman hoots happily before hopping atop the staff and fusing back with the wood, wings spread, and she hopped on before flying away from the owl house toward Blight Manor.

It's colder and colder with each passing day as they move into true fall. Leaves have fallen everywhere across the Isles, starting to give it an even more barren look in some places then it usually had, though in others the forest is awash with color of every shade and hue Luz can imagine.

The moon is full and the sky is clear. It couldn't be a more perfect evening for watching a meteor shower.

Blight Manor comes into view after a few minutes and Luz makes sure to hover down in the woods, well outside the wrought iron gates, just in the tree line.

Luckily most of the trees outside Blight Manor are of the coniferous variety and their branches are still full of green needles, shielding her from view.

She pulls out her scroll and sends a message.

'I’m outside, flash your light.'

She slipped it back in her hoodie pocket and glanced over the windows, most of the lights were on, then suddenly a light on the far side of the house began to flicker. Luz grinned and spurred the staff into motion toward the side of the house and over the fence to hover outside the second-story window.

She could see Amity inside, sitting on her bed and tapping her foot anxiously. She was wearing the white and purple hoodie she'd borrowed from Luz three weeks ago, which the human had completely forgotten about till now.

She definitely liked that hoodie on Amity.

Luz grinned as she flew in close and tapped the glass quietly. Amity jerked, gold eyes wide as she looked up to see her girlfriend hovering out the window, waving.

She smiled brightly and jumped up, opening the window.

"Buenas Noches, mi amor. Your chariot awaits." Luz grinned and hoped it came out as dashing as it did in her head.

"You certainly know how to make a girl feel special, querida," Amity giggled at her behind a hand and climbed onto the window sill. Luz held out her hand, taking Amity's to help steady her as she slipped out the window and onto the staff, hands wrapping around Luz's waist.

Just as she's about to close the window the bedroom door opens and before Amity's heart can come out of her throat, Edric sticks his head in and looks around a second before spotting them, hovering, outside the window, looking back at him with wide eyes.

They stare back at each other before Ed's face morphs into a wicked grin as he steps into the room, closing the door behind him.

"I never knew you had it in you, Mittens." He smirked, crossing his arms.

"Ed!" Amity hissed at the only Blight son as he walked over to the window and set his elbows on the sill, setting his head in his hands.

"Where are you two off too?" he asked, looking between the two with glee.

"We're gonna go watch the fall shower," Luz said with a grin before Amity could tell him to buzz off.

"Oooh…, and if mom or dad should happen to pop their heads into your room and see you're gone?" He cocked a brow. Amity frowned at that, suddenly doubting the brilliance of this plan.

Edric saw it and smiled, he twirled his finger and in a pale blue flash, a duplicate Amity appeared in her bed, appearing to be sleeping.

"I got ya covered." He winked, and Amity smiled at him. "Don't stay out too late, you two" He grins, wagging a finger.

"Thanks, Ed!" Luz grinned before they pulled away from the window and flew off into the dark.

Amity clung tightly to Luz's back as they flew over the island, she was downright hot in comparison to the cold air that whipped past their faces.

"Where are we going exactly?" She leaned forward, lips pressed against Luz's ear so she could hear her over the wind.

Luz shivered at the hot breath in her ear.

"Lilith told me about a spot on a cliff at the edge of the forest that was perfect when she went," she answered back, as she steered them.

"Lilith's been?" Luz can hear the surprise in her voice.

"I know, crazy right? She wouldn't say who with, Eda bugged her all night about it." Luz shrugged.

When they’re flying over the forest they can see the faint glowing of lights dotting the area.

"I don't think we're going to be the only ones here…," Amity mumbles and Luz nods, bringing them down away from any of the other couples that appear to be in the woods tonight.

They hop off and Luz leans the staff against her shoulder and pulls up her hood.

"We don't wanna be recognized if anyone we know is here. It'd be hard to explain why we're here together," she reasoned when Amity looked at her curiously.

"Right," she said, pulling up her own hood. "Nothing you can eat would fix that." She smirked as Luz pulled out a light glyph and lit up the area around them.

"I thought we agreed that that was endearing!" Luz yelped at the teasing. Amity just chuckled as she walked through the forest, Luz hot on her heels.

"A true labor of love," Amity agreed, though the way she was giggling told a different story.

"That's the last time I get a paper cut on my tongue for you," Luz huffed, grabbing Amity's hand. The witch's fingers laced between her automatically even as she rolled her eyes.

"What do you want me to do, kiss it better?"

"Maybe…," Luz grumbled, and they both turned bright red beneath their hoods.

"Come on, you dork," Amity mumbled, glad most of her face was hidden by the purple hood.

They walked quickly through the woods, hand in hand as they searched for a relatively private spot from which to watch the sky.

"It should be just over this way…," Luz said quietly as they walked, their breaths coming out in little clouds.

"Did Lilith say exactly where it was?" Amity glanced around at all the trees, their feet crunching in the leaves.

"No, but she said around here, and that we'd know it when we saw it. There should be a bunch of rocks with initials carved into them," she said, holding her hand up, the light out in front of her.

A few more yards and she stopped, jerking Amity tp a stop as well.

"What-," she started.

"Shhh," Luz hushed her and tapped the staff to the ground, snuffing the light out, casting them in darkness before pulling Amity against her and pressing her back flush against a wide tree trunk. It took a few moments before their eyes adjusted to the dark, the light of the moon filtering through the trees cast a faint, but low, glow over everything.

They stayed perfectly still and quiet. All Amity could hear was her own heartbeat in her ears.

Then, the crunching of leaves approaching, followed by voices growing steadily louder. A moment later they could see the light bobbing between the trees a few yards away.

"How many more of these losers do you think we can catch on camera?" A voice cackled.

'Boscha' was the thought going through both girls' heads. Amity's grip on Luz tightened and her heartbeat sped up. Luz pulled her closer, as though trying to sink into the bark of the tree and make themselves disappear.

"There were a bunch down by the river." Skara's voice answered.

"Perfect, my penstagram followers could use a laugh," she snorted.

They were walking past them, through the trees, and both girls held their breath as they walked by.

Their voices and the light growing steadily more distant along with their footsteps in the crunching leaves. Eventually, the sounds faded entirely, replaced with the ambient sounds of the forest and Amity sighed in relief, her head sagging against Luz's shoulder.

"That was close…," the witch mumbled once she was sure they were far enough away.

"She just came out here to make fun of people…" Luz frowned, and Amity pulled back to look at her girlfriend's face.

"That's certainly something she would do…" Amity agreed.

"She's such a…" Luz chewed on her words, face screwed up with anger.

"A bitch," Amity supplied and Luz looked at her with wide eyes before a grin broke out across her face and she snorted, slapping a hand over her mouth to muffle her laughing and Amity grinned at her.

"My, my, what strong language, Miss Blight." Luz grinned once she got her giggling under control.

"You were thinking it," she argued, still grinning.

"I would never." Luz held a hand to her chest, but her own grin betrayed her.

"Come on," she laughed, tugging Luz away from the tree and spelling a light orb into existence as they continued on in the same direction as before.

They pushed through some bushes and in front of them were an outcropping of rocks.

"I wonder if this is it…," Luz hummed as they pushed through and rounded one of the large rocks only to smack directly into someone.

"Ahh!" Four yells echoed through the woods.

Luz holds the staff out in front of them defensively before she realizes who it is they’ve run into.

"Amity!?"

"Emira!?

The sisters stared at each other.

"What are you doing here?" they both asked.

Amity blinked, then noticed the other person standing at her sister's side.

"Viney?" Luz cocked her head, looking between the two older teens.

"Sup?" She smiled, not looking at all bothered by the events going on around them. Amity looked back and forth between her sister and the other multi-track student.

The older Blight's face turned panicked.

"I can explain!" Emira practically shouts at them. Her sister's mouth is hanging open as the scene in front of them begins to sink in.

"I knew it!" Luz points, grinning wildly at the other two girls. Amity blinks at that, head whipping to look at her girlfriend.

"What do you mean you knew it!?" she yelps and Luz chuckles, scratching the back of her head.

"Well, yeah, after Viney fixed my face and was so weird about how she knew Em, I kinda started paying more attention, and saw Em head into beast keeping one day after school when I had to go back because I forgot my bag, so I just figured." She shrugged. The older teens stand there, red-faced at being so easily figured out.

"Them, you figured out in two weeks, but you didn't know I liked you till I said it to your face after almost two months…" Amity frowns, crossing her arms. Luz turned red at that and grinned sheepishly, shrugging.

"Lo Siento, mi amor."

Viney snorted at that, drawing the two girls’ gaze.

"That sounds like, Luz," she agreed, and Amity sighed.

"Are you guys here to watch the fall shower?" Luz grins.

"Of course," Viney smiles back, hand on her hip.

The sisters are still looking at each other. Emira looks embarrassed and Amity can't help but feel betrayal sinking in her gut like a stone.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this…," she finally managed to mutter and the betrayal she feels must be clear on her face because Emira blinks at her and grimaces, rubbing one of her arms.

Luz and Viney share a glance.

"I can't believe you!" Amity frowns and Emira jerks but then glares.

"It's not like you told me about, Luz!" she bites back defensively.

"You already knew!" she argued.

"Anyone with one eye and half a brain could tell how bad you had it for her!" she barked.

"Hey!" Luz jumps in, offended by the implication.

"Babe..." Viney rested a hand on Emira's shoulder and she relaxed, sighing.

"Look, Amity, it wasn't anything personal… it was just that the fewer people that knew the better. I shouldn't have to tell you that." Her eyes darted to Luz before focusing on her sister.

Amity continues to frown and Luz nudges her with her hip. She glanced at the human, smiling at her in that way, egging her on. Amity sighs, looking back at Emira.

"You're right… I understand."

"I should have told you though… there just hasn't been a good time lately," Emira admitted.

"I don't understand…," Luz said, drawing everyone's gaze. "I know why your parents wouldn't like me… being all human and everything, but what's wrong with Viney, why keep it a secret?" She held her hand out at the other upperclassman.

"Besides being a multi-track student, formerly of the detention track, and bottom of the barrel social class-wise?" Viney chuckled, seemingly not at all bothered by this characterization of herself.

"Our parents are very… traditional," Amity hedges.

"Anyone who falls outside the norm, someone studying multiple tracks, like you," Emira pointed at her. " Or aren't of the right social class, they are not going to be fond of." Emira frowns, resting a fist on her hip.

"Wow, I think that's the first time I've checked every box on a list…, and not the list I wanted too..." Luz frowned, crossing her arms.

"I still love you." Amity nudged her, making her smile.

Emira cleared her throat and they both turned red as they focussed on the two grinning teens in front of them.

"So yeah," Emira said with a grin at her sister's bright red face. "That's why."

"Blight's just have the hots for trouble makers." Viney winked and Luz laughed as they high fived, making the sisters roll their eyes, but both their faces are pink.

"I'm surprised though, never thought you'd have the guts to sneak out, Mittens." Emira looked at her sister appraisingly. "Then again, you do a lot of surprising things these days…" she smiled, glancing between the two younger girls.

Amity stood a little taller, chin jutted out.

"How'd you guys get here?" Luz asks.

"Puddles" Viney grinned, pointing her thumb over her shoulder at the young griffin laying curled up in the grass.

"I want a griffin…" Luz pouted, making her fellow multi-tracker chuckle.

“You do not need a griffin…,” Amity mumbled.

"You guys better find a spot to watch from, the shower should be starting soon," Viney reminded.

"And this is our spot," Emira said.

"Oh, right. Come on, Amity." Luz grabbed her hand and tugged.

Amity sent a last glance at her sister who seemed to read the look.

"Later," she promised. Amity nodded and let Luz drag her away.

"Stay close and we'll warn you if anyone's coming our way!" Viney called to the two's retreating backs. Luz waved over her shoulder.

"We can still find a good spot." Luz smiled at her as they walked. Amity nodded. The cool night air had made her nose and the tips of her ears red, Luz looked much the same.

They followed the edge of the cliff till they pushed through some bushes as tall as them and stopped.

In front of them was a small clearing of grass surrounded by large stones on one side and the edge of the cliff, hanging out over the ocean on the other, providing perfect shelter from any onlookers and a clear view of the night sky and moon above them.

"This is perfect." Luz smiled and Amity nodded in agreement.

They glanced around and Luz perked up. "Hey check it out!" She trotted over to the rocks and the light spell lit up the rocks, casting long shadows against their jagged shapes and the many initials carved across their faces. "This is it!" Luz grinned.

"Lilith was right, this spot is perfect," Amity admitted, looking around. The moonlight reflecting off the ocean amidst the starry sky was beautiful.

Luz glanced around before her eyes lighted upon a sharp rock and picked it up, resting the staff against the rocks and immediately going to work on a free space on the rocks face, tongue poking out between her lips in concentration

All the scratching and chipping noise brought Amity's eyes back to her, hunched over one of the large rocks.

"What are you doing?" She tried to peek around her, but Luz covered her work with her arms.

"Hold on, I'm not done!"

Amity can practically hear the grin in her voice, and stood back, waiting. After a few minutes, Luz leaned back, eyeing her work critically before smiling and standing up to move aside.

"Ta~da" She held out her arms at the rock.

There, chiseled forever into the rock's surface, deep enough to never fade is: 'L+A' Inside a slightly misshapen heart.

Amity's face warms, and heat blooms in her chest in a way that only Luz is capable of eliciting. She can't stop the smile tugging at her lips even if she wanted too; and she doesn't.

"You're a dork," she says, but the adoring tone can't be mistaken for anything else.

"But I'm your dork, mi amor." She grins wagging her eyes brows and Amity snorts into her hand.

"Yeah, my dork," she agrees, grabbing the sides of Luz's hood and pulling her in for a kiss.

Luz laughs against her lips and she pulls back, shaking her head.

"Come on…," she mumbles, still smiling as she tugs Luz over to the grass. Luz dropped her hand to plop down on the ground, flopping onto her back in the grass, one arm outstretched in invitation. Amity sat down beside her laid back in the grass atop Luz's arm, letting her tug her in close. Her warmth immediately soaks into her, and Amity shuffles closer, throwing an arm across Luz's waist, humming contently and Luz is happy to oblige any and all snuggling, her free hand reaching across to entangle her fingers with Amity's. Their cold and Luz just squeezed tighter, trying to warm the digits in hers and Amity smiles against her.

It's quiet, the sounds of the ocean crashing against the shore and the slight breeze in the trees are the only sounds for a few minutes, but Luz and quiet never did mix for long.

"So, when is it supposed to start?" Luz mumbles against a pointed ear, hot breath making it twitch. Amity half shrugs.

"Anytime now," she hums.

Honestly, she doesn't even care if it ever starts, though she's sure Luz would be disappointed if it didn't. She's happy to just be right here, her girlfriend holding her close, alone in the calm quiet of the night. It's only ever here, wrapped up in the unending warmth and affection the other girl exudes, that Amity is ever truly at peace, unworried by everything else going on in her life, whether it be school, her parents, or anything in between. Here, above all else, is where she's happiest.

She lets her eyes slip closed for a moment, and the warm earthy smell she would know anywhere fills her senses, so much stronger then on the hoodie she's been wearing to bed for two weeks. She doesn't pretend to understand what Luz is thinking half the time, but her thoughts must be of a similar vein because she feels her nose bury in her hair.

It's probably only a minute before she hears Luz gasp.

"It's starting!" Is the excited whisper against the shell of her ear, and her eyes pop open.

First, it's just one, then two, then three more, and before she knows it, stars are streaking across the sky leaving bright trails of light in their wake as they flash and vanish almost as quickly as they appear, but are quickly replaced by more.

"Wow…," Luz breathes as she watches with wide eyes. It reminds her of rain on a window, or tears falling, like in the story.

Amity watches silently, but no less entranced by the spectacle.

"Totally worth it," Luz says and Amity can see the cloud it makes before it evaporates against the sky above them. She hums in agreement.

The stars continue to flash across the sky in bright flecks of whizzing light, slowly fading out against the inky blacks and deep blues and purples of the nebulas above. Amity’s thumb runs over the back of Luz’s knuckles slowly.

The sky is alive with the bright streaks for a long while before they begin to slow, and as they do she can feel her eyes droop, the quiet, and Luz's warmth slowly lulling her to sleep.

After a while, Luz notices the constant rubbing of Amity's thumb over her knuckles has stopped and she glances down to see her eyes closed and breathing soft and even as she sleeps, curled against her. Happiness, hot and searing, fills her whole being; beyond words to describe it.

She smiles to herself, and buries her nose in mint hair, letting her eyes slip closed, just for a second, listening to the calming sound of Amity's breathing and feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest against her.

Then she's asleep.

The next thing they know, they're being shaken awake.

"Huh, Wha-" Luz blinks drowsily.

"You two gotta get up, and Mittens has to come home with me," Emira chuckles as she and Viney stand over the two, smiling, Puddles standing behind them.

Luz grumbles, clutching her girlfriend closer.

"No…," she mumbles thickly. She feels the hot puffs of air against her neck as Amity sleepily laughs at her.

"We have to go…," she says thickly, pressing a drowsy kiss to Luz's neck without thinking, unaware of the jolt it sends through Luz’s system, before extracting herself from her. Luz just whines and makes needy, grabby motions with her hands; she’s colder now.

Amity chuckles and holds out her hand.

"Come on, you dork." She smiles down at her.

Luz takes her hand and lets herself be hauled to her feet. She walked over to the rocks and picked up the staff. The wings spread and she hops on, hovering off the ground and looking at Amity expectantly.

“I better go with Em,” she says sadly, and Luz pouts. Amity smiles and takes a step forward and kisses her goodnight, and it if lasts longer than it really needs to, the other two teens don’t say anything, just wait for Amity to extract herself from Luz.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she promises quietly, and Luz hums in agreement. “Goodnight, querida,” she mumbles.

“Goodnight, mi amor,” she says quietly, and then is flying off over the trees and disappearing from sight.

Viney jumps on Puddles back and Emira climbs on behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Let’s go, Mittens,” her sister calls. “We have school tomorrow.”

“When did you suddenly become the voice of reason?” Viney chuckles.

“Cuz, she’s too head over heels in love with Luz, someone has to do it,” her sister teases, and Amity huffs, climbing on the griffin’s back behind her sister.

“Shut up,” she grumbles as they take off back toward Blight Manor.

“I’m curious…,” Emira starts after a few minutes, looking over her shoulder at Amity. “What’s ‘mi amor’? I’ve heard her say that before,” she asks, and Amity’s cheeks pink.

“It’s Spanish…,” she grumbles.

“Yeah, but what does it mean?” she stresses, almost knowingly. Maybe she doesn’t know exactly, but she knows a term of endearment when she hears one, especially the way Luz says those words to her; soft and meaningfully.

She mumbles something.

“What?” she asks and Amity sighs to herself.

“It means ‘my love’,” she finally says, and predictably, Emira coos at her.

“Aww… so ‘querida’ is like…,” she trails off and Amity scowls at her, of course, she heard that.

“Dear or darling,” she grumbles.

“You two are too cute.” She grins.

“Like you don’t call me ‘honey’,” Viney pipes up, and it’s Emira’s turn to blush and grumble something under her breath. Amity snorts, grinning. She likes Viney more and more by the minute.

They land in the woods, just beyond the house and dismount, there's no way to get the griffin as close and quietly to their windows as Luz could get on a staff.

Amity turns away as Viney and her sister say their own goodbye’s, and then the multi-tracker is flying off into the night and the sisters make their way to the door. It’s late and all the lights are out, their parents are definitely asleep by now.  

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Emira says after a minute. “About Viney,” she clarifies, glancing at her sister.

Amity shrugs.

“I get it… I’m... terrified, about mom and dad finding out about Luz, and never being able to see her again,” she says quietly. Emira wraps an arm around her shoulders and squeezes.

“Ed and I have your back.”

Amity smiles to herself and nods before it turns into a grin.

“And I’m sure if Luz starts inviting Viney to things it will be just a coincidence,” she teases, and Emira scoffs, shoving her away, but her flushed face says it all and Amity laughs.

“Whatever…,” she gripes, but she’s grinning. It would definitely be less conspicuous if the four of them hung out together. They love hanging out with Gus and Willow, but she’s sure their friends get tired of them being all lovey when they're together.

They silently open the door and walk in.

The kitchen light is on and they share a look before tiptoeing down the entryway and peek their heads around the corner, the fridge door is open and someone is scavenging through it. They stay perfectly still.

Then, Edric steps back, fork hanging out of his mouth and a piece of cake in hand, and closes the door.

“Ed,” they hiss, and he jumps, nearly dropping the plate.

“Shit! Don’t do that!” he huffs as they walk into the kitchen. “Wait, where were you?” he points at his twin.

“We were both at the Fall Shower,” Amity says and Emira pinks as her twin looks at her with narrowed eyes.

“With who?” he asks.

“Her girlfriend?” Amity says obviously, and Edric’s eyes widen.

“You have a girlfriend?” he hisses, and Amity blinks, looking from one twin to the other.

“You didn’t tell Ed?” She blinks. Amity had always assumed that the twins told each other everything.

“Who’s your girlfriend?!” He leans forward and Emira turns red.

“Viney…”

“Your multi-track friend?” He blinks and she nods. “Huh… I shoulda pegged her as your type,” he hums before taking a bite of his cake. “So, how was it?” he asks, mouthful. The sisters glance at each other.

“Perfect,” they say, and Edric just nods sagely before he stops, looking thoughtful.

"So… wait… I'm the only one without a girlfriend!?" Edric yelled, throwing up his free hand.

Amity snorted, and Emira just shrugged.

"Sorry, Bro." She smirked, not looking sorry at all.

"Whatever, I don't want one anyway. I have this cake," he huffs, sticking his nose in the air and walking back upstairs with his treat.

The sisters share a look before they start laughing.

~

Luz hops off the staff and pushes open the front door of the owl house, careful not to wake Hooty as she steps inside.

“Hey, Kid,” Eda greets her when she steps inside. The sisters are sitting on the couch when she walks in, and she smiles at them. Eda doesn’t even need to ask how it went by the dopey smile Luz can’t seem to rid herself of. “You’re home late for a school night,” she scolds but is given away by her grin.

“How was the shower?” Lilith asks her, smiling, she too can see the giddy aura that surrounds her sister’s apprentice like a fog.  

Luz clutches the staff tightly in her hands, well aware of how dopey she must look.

“Magical” she sighs and Eda chuckles.

[3laxx]

Bring It Home - Chapter 10

The old shack had by now half fallen into itself, the roof and the entire first floor had collapsed. Sunlight shone through the burst and broken wooden planks, entire patches lighting up the rotten floor where the roof and upper level had caved in and were missing.

This is it The chapter I was anticipating from the beginning

It's over 5k of complete and utter sadness! I cried so much while writing! Yay xD

Help

Ao3 / FF.net

---

There it was, the portal.

Amity breathed through when she walked towards it, feeling like she had shackles locked up to her wrists and ankles. Her limbs felt stiff and heavy, and whenever she made another slow step, she felt as if ice encasing her joints broke away.

Eda shot the young woman an encouraging nod, before Amity came to a stop in front of the swirling magical door, standing before her opened up widely. Willow and Gus stood on the other side of the door, both looking anxious.

“You sure you wanna do this alone?”, Willow finally asked and Amity nodded at her, head neck feeling stiff.

“Yeah. I think us all going to Luz’s mother would just overwhelm her.”, she gulped before grabbing the strap of her bag tighter. They had packed a few of Luz’s belongings to prove she had known Luz and wasn’t just pulling some cruel prank on Camila. Luz’s human phone, dead for a long time by now, was in it, along with her Azura book containing her handwriting, and one of her pictures of her mother and her. Whenever Amity looked at the picture, she felt a chill running down her spine.

Taking another shaky breath, the young woman pulled the beanie on that Luz had left behind, to hider her ears, and looked ahead into the swirling mass of magic staring back at her.

She and Eda had tried it out multiple times, and it had led to the human realm with no mistakes.

Finally, Amity gave herself a push and crossed the doorstep. For a moment she lost her footing as she stepped into magic, but the next she felt a floor manifest beneath her shoe. Almost stumbling, she managed to catch herself, before taking another step and coming out the other side of the portal door.

The old shack had by now half fallen into itself, the roof and the entire first floor had collapsed. Sunlight shone through the burst and broken wooden planks, entire patches lighting up the rotten floor where the roof and upper level had caved in and were missing.

Birds chirped, creatures Amity had never heard before, but she had studied them. Completely harmless, as most in the human realm was. Eda had taught her as much as she could, how humans behaved and that she had to look out for whole other dangers in the human realm.

Carriages that went faster than any staff could fly, scams that she could fall for, dangerous humans that wanted to hurt others, in ways Amity had never heard before.

But that wasn’t what was worrying her at all. What was worrying her was the red roof shining through the treetops, the small house just a bit away. Amity could barely make out it was there. Eda had been there with her before, to show her where Luz had come from, so she could be prepared to go to the right house.

The young witch grabbed the strap of her bag tighter again as she took the first few tentative steps down the porch and the steps, the boards beneath her creaking dangerously while she descended.

The grass in the human realm felt soft and fragile, just a soft kick made it bend and break. The grass on the Boiling Isles was hardened by the boiling rain, thick and resilient against any weather.

She bent down, feeling like she may be procrastinating, but she decidedly wanted to take in the human realm fully for herself.

It was the first time she had crossed through the portal by herself, the only other two times had been to test it when it had opened and to find the house of Luz’s family.

Now, she was listening to the birds chirping and the grass felt so soft and cool between her fingers. The ground felt springy, kind of, very soft and giving. She realized she was standing on a patch of plant, but it wasn’t smoldering or trying to eat her.

Moss, she faintly remembered.

Humming to herself, she took in the scent.

Nothing smelled burnt or had a sharp, acid tone to it like it often did in the Boiling Isles.

Here in the woods, everything smelled fresh, somehow, like it did sometimes when it hadn’t rained for a while on the Isles, or like it smelled in Willow’s room.

Spinning around herself once she got back up to her feet, she looked around. Everything was green, and every plant looked so different from the Boiling Isles’ vegetation. Nothing here was orange or green. Not even the sky.

Through the leaves that were shaking in the wind above her, a gigantic stretch of blue covered the entire sky. Luz had told her how much bigger the Human realm was than the Boiling Isles. Mainly because she hadn’t exactly been off the Titan much.

Amity breathed through again, blinking against the sun that was sometimes blinding her through the thick treetops, before starting to walk. The human realm was changing slowly, the further she got out of the forest and closer to the city Luz had been living in.

The smell changed, Amity couldn’t describe what was going on, but it felt like it was pressuring her lungs. The trees stood farther apart and more roofs appeared. Strange buildings, with a lot of big windows and built much simpler than the ones in Bonesborough. There were no wooden beams or decorations. Most seemed plain to Amity’s eyes as she let her limited gaze through the trees wander over them. And there were many.

Sure, Bonesborough was a big city already, but Luz had told her how much bigger the humans built their stuff.

Gulping, Amity approached the rooftop she was supposed to be going to. The strap of her bag was all wrinkled by the time she arrived, and even when she gave it a stroke or two, the wrinkles stayed in the fabric.

Rounding the house, she stepped onto something that looked like a sidewalk, but in Bonesborough, the curbs were much higher to be safe during boiling rain. It had plates of stone that Amity had never seen before, and behind that was one of the things Eda had warned her about.

A road.

Amity warily looked from left to right, partly terrified and partly in hopes to see one of those carriages Eda had been talking about, cars, but none came.

Shaking her head, she turned around to look at the house she had seen in one of Luz’s pictures she had shown from home. It looked exactly the same. Rounding the weird-looking mailbox, before walking up the small path to the house.

These steps up to the front door also looked worn, but not nearly as old or rotten as the ones she had been descending at the old shack back in the woods. They looked lively and homely and well used but not at all broken.

Breathing through, Amity took the first step up and put a hand on the wooden rails. She felt the wood beneath her hand, soft and ground down by a hand running up and down it countlessly. Had Luz held onto these railings when learning to walk steps? Had she held onto them whenever she had left the house? Had she hung from them as a kid?

Gulping, Amity pulled her hand back. Suddenly, everything felt so sacred about this place.

It had been six years since Luz had last been here, but it was to Amity like everything she touched had been touched by her before, as if she was destroying the illusion.

After getting hung up on the first step, Amity looked ahead again, biting her lip. She had to do this. Luz had wanted to see her Mama again, and she would fulfill her wish. A breath left her body when she felt like she had been punched, at the memory of Luz muttering her wish on the phone call.

Amity still heard her say it like it had been yesterday.

The memory hurt like hell, and she sure didn’t want to relive it right before facing Camila and having to rip open this wound again anyway, but Luz’s voice was already whispering in the back of her head.

---

“… What’s something I can do right now?”, she asked and Amity once again hesitated, staring down at her Abominations homework. She was not really up for this question. Brainstorming with Luz had been fun, but she didn’t want to get involved so much right now. Originally, she had just wanted to finish her homework and head straight to bed.

“… Hm, right now?”, she mumbled, more focused on the sheet before her. She knew she was procrastinating Luz’s question, but she really had to finish her thoughts on this answer right now, and speaking mindlessly had been the only thing to allow her to focus on completing the sentence she had begun scribbling down.

Amity’s quill scratched again, so she couldn’t hear Luz’s distressed hum. But judging from the silence, the human seemed to wait for an answer, so Amity let out a timid sigh, before turning back to her scroll. The picture Luz had taken made her smile before she turned back to her answer sheet.

“Right now you could-… Let out a scream. Or-… Or you could write a poem.”, Amity shrugged, distracted. The silence that came from the call didn’t worry her. Any silence was welcome, as much as she enjoyed talking to Luz, to finish her homework. It was already late.

“… I wanna see my Mama.”, she finally wheezed, making Amity shift, closer to her scroll. The way Luz had just said that didn’t exactly sound good. Was she coming down with a sickness of the Boiling Isles? Maybe the Common Mold?

“Luz, are you sure you’re okay?”, she questioned, even picking up her scroll now to hear if Luz sounded strained in any way. Curse these things for their crappy microphones.

“Just-… A little cold. I’ll go home soon.”, she tried, and Amity didn’t sound convinced when she hummed, not even trying to cover that up. She wanted Luz to hear how skeptical she was.

But the moment Luz continued talking, that short unease faded again and Amity put down her scroll, before turning back to her homework. She sure hoped Luz would do hers, their teacher would not take kindly to her forgetting it.

---

Shaking her head, Amity broke her gaze from the door and looked to the side of the door, spotting the doorbell.

Her feet felt heavy again when she took the next few steps, up to the door to try and straighten her shoulders. Tensions were keeping them pulled up, and even if Amity tried, she couldn’t relax her muscles. A tremble rolled over her, from her scalp down to her back, and let the hairs on her arms and legs stand in goosebumps.

Hiccupping, she looked at the doorbell, before she lifted a slow, heavy hand to it and pushed it down. The tremble didn’t stop and she began shaking in anticipation and fear.

Something in the house sounded, like steps, and she took two steps down again, not to be so close to the door. Time slowed for Amity when she felt her fingernails digging into her palms, trying not to get too nervous. Gulping around the big lump in her throat, she tried breathing through slowly, in through the nose, and out through the mouth, but it did little to help her anxiety.

The door opened and a woman in her mid-forties looked down at Amity. Even if she was a good bit smaller than her, Amity having taken down the few steps made her feel like a child. It probably didn’t help that she had sunken into herself a little, and the woman in front of her seemed so… Adult.

Unable to hide the surprise at the stranger in front of her door, Camila narrowed her eyes.

“Uhm, hi. Can I help you?”, she asked, but Amity found herself unable to look away from those brown eyes. The same eyes Luz had.

Titan, she had looked so much like her mother.

Amity would recognize this woman from anywhere, she had looked at Luz’s picture often enough. Her brown hair had gotten grey patches by now, and she looked decidedly more tired than she had on the picture with Luz. But the skin tone was the same, even if a bit darker than that of her daughter, the remaining brown hair had almost the same shade as Luz’s and Titan, her eyes were identical in color. Luz’s had been a tad bit lighter, wider, more open to wonder, but she could see the similarities so strikingly intensely that she had to suck in a sharp breath at the complexion she was looking at.

“I-… I’m Amity Blight. Are you Camila Noceda?”, she tried to control her voice, but it was more of a pathetic croak in the end. Camila’s eyes widened.

For a moment, Amity feared she would shut the door on her or worse, start screaming, but Camila’s skeptical face quickly turned into something Amity didn’t have any trouble deciphering.

Hope.

“… You’re that girl Luz talked about in one of her videos!”, she suddenly exclaimed and Amity could see her breath quickening before she looked back into the house and then back at her, “Do-… Do you have any information on my daughter?!”

Camila’s voice cracked and Amity had to gulp, but she nodded. Opening the door, the woman waved her in and Amity felt her heart sinking.

When she entered the house, everything was so much more Luz than Amity could’ve ever anticipated. There was nothing still belonging to Luz, she supposed Camila must’ve put her everyday stuff away over the years, but everything in here screamed Luz. The photographs of a way younger Luz, a child in her mother’s arms, still hanging on the walls. A few of her alone, with ridiculous hairstyles or Azura stuff. One of her and her father.

Amity grazed over his face shortly, before turning back to Camila, who ushered her through the hallway into the living room.

“You see, a while back I got these videos and texts from Luz, from her phone. It must’ve been two weeks ago, I think.”, she sat Amity down and took a place next to her, not noticing the young woman stiffening when she mentioned when the texts had started coming in, “They look-… Old, but, maybe the phone got reception again. I-… I thought Luz to be gone, but-… Now with these texts, I-…”

Her voice clearly quivered when she looked back up to Amity. Something inside her clicked.

It must’ve happened when they had opened the portal for the first time again. She didn’t know exactly how human technology and the “internet” worked, but the messages Luz had been sending her mother must have sent the moment they had reconnected the realms through the portal. Camila had received the videos and texts from six years ago and must’ve gained a new hope for her daughter.

Suddenly, Amity’s task of telling her what had happened seemed a lot harder.

Camila had never known what had happened to her daughter and had probably believed her to be dead at some point.

Amity would have to let die Luz all over again for her mother.

Gulping and breathing through, she bit her lip while looking at the older woman. Her round ears looked so much like Luz’s, she noticed.

“What-… What did Luz talk about, Mrs. Noceda?”, she softly asked and Camila shrugged, holding her phone, a paused image of Luz, frozen in time, staring back up to her. Her arms were blurred as if she was gesturing wildly. A sad smile spread on Amity’s lips when she followed Camila’s gaze down to the young teenager.

“… I don’t really know if I’m being honest…”, she mumbled and Amity felt her eyes pricking with tears, “She talks about a weird place, the Boiling Isles, she called it. A place full of witches and demons. But she also-… She talked about friends she made.”

Camila’s shoulders were hanging as she locked her phone again and looked back up to Amity. Luz’s image vanished and Amity felt a pang in her heart. What she would’ve given to see these videos at least once.

“I-… I thought it was a scam at first. She looked exactly like when she left here for camp. When I-…”, heavy emotions overcame the woman and Amity almost reached out to comfort her, “Doesn’t matter. I thought, if it wasn’t a scam, she must’ve lost her mind or have been kidnapped and forced to ramble this nonsense and the videos were sent to me now to torture me… But. Now you show up.”

Their eyes locked again and Amity almost couldn’t swallow down the sob that had been building in her throat. Camila looked so hopeful, so excited, almost, to see her. All because Luz had mentioned her in an old video. Suddenly, she felt herself struggling with her clouded vision, tears welling up in her eyes because she realized that this woman still loved Luz so much, she was willing to grasp every straw for her daughter even after all these years.

“… Mrs. Noceda, I-…”, she tried but Camila waved her hand.

“Call me Camila, please. Any friend of Luz’s is welcome in this house, especially considering she never had many.”, she sighed, before looking back to Amity again, “Can you-… Can you tell me what happened to my daughter?”

This was it. She would have to let Luz die all over again, not only for Camila but also for herself.

But first, she knew she had to do something else. Gulping, she reached up to the beanie that Camila had probably already recognized as Luz’s and grabbed it. Her fingers wouldn’t close at first because of how weak she felt, but she overcame the lack of control and pulled the beanie off her hair. Her brown locks fell freely but still didn’t cover up her witch ears.

Camila’s eyebrows furrowed when Amity handed her the beanie before her eyes landed on her ears. Amity used the moment to tie her bangs back up in the half ponytail she was used to before Camila managed to get a word out.

“Is that-… A costume?”, she asked, and Amity shook her head.

“Everything that Luz said in these videos is true.”, she finally mumbled and let her hands fall back into her lap, following them with her gaze, “The Boiling Isles is where I was born. Witches and demons are all I’ve known for all my life, I’m a witch myself. There, magic exists. And-… Luz was there. I-… I met her.”

A moment of silence spread between them, before Camila looked back down to her locked phone, obviously still skeptical. But Amity didn’t care if she believed her or not. All she wanted to do was to reassure her that Luz hadn’t been lying.

Apparently, Camila quickly moved on from her doubts, because after a short while, she searched Amity’s gaze again. She knew the older human didn’t believe her, she remembered she had had trouble imagining a world completely without magic, but it didn’t matter. She had mentioned Luz and Camila wanted to know more.

“No matter if it’s right or not, you said you knew Luz.”, Amity nodded and looked back down to her hands, before remembering her bag. Swiftly, albeit with shaking hands, she unpacked Luz’s phone, her pictures, and her Azura book, handing the items to Camila.

“You might remember these. I brought them as proof that I’m telling the truth.”, she quietly said and tried not to look in Camila’s direction when she gave into a dry sob while inspecting Luz’s things. Amity rubbed her hands together, not wanting to interrupt such an intimate moment, and Camila seemed to appreciate that. Another hiccup sounded from her direction and Amity didn’t dare to look up, before the human placed the things on the low coffee table, before starting to talk again.

“Why-… Why are you here?”, she finally choked out and Amity suspected that the woman already knew why she was here. Coming here alone, bringing Luz’s things, talking of her in the past. When she looked up, she saw the tears already flowing down her cheeks.

Camila knew it, she knew exactly what was bound to come.

Amity breathed through, before turning her body back to her and fidgeting with her hands.

“I-… I came here because of a promise I made to Luz a long time ago.”, she tried to control her shaking voice, but Camila didn’t seem to make it easy on her when another sniffle came from the woman, “I-… I promised to her that I’d go see you.”

“… I-In her place?”, she choked out and Amity nodded. They both knew it, she just had to confirm it to Camila. The words didn’t want to leave her lips but they had to. Camila hadn’t heard anything from Luz in six years, and only now did she have the chance to hear facts. To learn the truth.

Amity knew she had to deliver.

“Mrs. Noceda… I-I’m so sorry, but Luz is gone.”, she finally pressed out and with a start, Mrs. Noceda shot up from the couch. She looked up to see her barely holding it together.

“I-If you’ll excuse me for a m-moment-”, she whispered, barely visible, and Amity nodded past her own tears. Camila left the room shortly and Amity tried to regain some of her composure. Wiping away her tears, she stared down at her hands, before taking some hard breaths and her eyes wandering to Camila’s phone. She wondered what Luz had said about her.

It took about fifteen minutes until Camila was composed enough to enter the living room again. Amity had waited patiently, not looking around too much since she felt like she was invading her late friend’s private space, but when she looked up, she sucked in a hard breath.

Camila looked just about the same as she had looked in the weeks after Luz’s death. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, and her expression was broken. Gulping, she averted her eyes out of decency while Camila took a seat next to her again.

They stayed silent for a while, interrupted by the older woman’s sniffles before she found her voice again.

“… When did it happen?”, she croaked and Amity pulled her shoulders up. She had not looked forward to reliving her death, but Camila deserved answers after enduring the uncertainty for too long.

“She-… She died in late summer, six years ago. She was fourteen, and-… And had just been in the Boiling Isles for a few months.”, Amity answered truthfully, and the pain she had worked so hard on to lessen and accept for years suddenly spiked like it had been yesterday.

Another little sniffle sounded and when she looked over, Camila was trying so hard to suppress her sobs.

“How-…”, Amity already dreaded the question Camila was barely managing to phrase, “How did she die?”

She closed her eyes and her hands began trembling. All her composure and decency were out the window when she felt herself sobbing, suddenly, but she managed to push it down just enough to answer.

“Luz-… She was-… She had enemies, powerful ones. They-… They attacked her when she was alone. We-… We tried so hard to keep that from happening, but-…”, her hands trembled so much when she grabbed the hem of her shirt, crumpling it up in her grip, “… She defeated them all, but she was injured. She knew-… She knew that she didn’t have the time to call for healers. So she-… Called me.”

Camila’s eyes didn’t leave her when she looked back to her and Amity knew she had to continue.

“What-… What did you talk about?”, Camila softly asked. There were still tears running down her cheeks, but it was noticeable that she had already been through this before.

“I-… I didn’t know she had been injured. I was-…”, embarrassedly, Amity looked away again, “I was doing my homework when she called. We-… We talked about nothing specific… About the stars and-… And her bucket list. She wanted to do a bucket list.”

Gulping, she then grabbed into her bag again to produce a very old and flimsy piece of paper. It was ripped in some folding lines, but Amity handled it carefully when she unfolded it and placed it on the table next to Luz’s stuff.

“… These are the things we talked about.”, she explained when Camila sniffled, before wiping away her tears and leaning over to read through Amity’s neat handwriting. The first task, to be a real witch, still didn’t have a check. The second had a few proud checks, and the paper was littered with little Azura sketches on varying skillset.

Amity had given up counting the skiing checks or adding new ones. The space was already filled up and the checks had started bleeding into the task beneath that, Skipping school. She had only done that less than a handful of times, but it had felt good noting these checks down.

The task of smashing stuff was still at one because she hadn’t felt like adding another check due to her accidentally breaking Willow’s teapot one very tired morning.

Kissing someone had also stayed at a chaste, single check, contrary to screaming, which she had done again just yesterday, in preparation for today. Writing a poem followed the task of kissing someone with one check since she didn’t plan on writing another one.

Slowly, she pulled out a pen and completed the task of seeing her mother again, putting a neat check behind it as Camila nodded. She let her have the bit of time to calm down again and read through the list a couple of times, before leaning back.

“You two were close, I take it?”, she asked quietly and Amity nodded with a sad smile, looking back up to her before putting the pen away again.

“Yes. Luz and I were friends. She made a lot of friends on the Boiling Isles.”

Camila nodded slowly, before blinking slowly, then she breathed through.

“Forgive me for my horrible hospitality-”, she began and Amity already tried waving it off, “Would you like something to drink? Or a snack?”

That had caught Amity off guard. Camila had just learned her daughter was dead, had been dead for the past six years, but she seemed tired after the first initial shock. Yet still, she thought of her, first.

“… I’d-… Actually like some water, please.”, she admitted and Camila got up to enter the nearby kitchen and fix some water for her.

“I need a coffee…”, she mumbled to herself and Amity got up to follow her, looking at her concerned, before she addressed the young witch again, “Do you want a coffee, too?”

“Mrs. Noceda, can I help you somehow?”, she instead asked and the older woman gave her the glass of water, before shaking her head.

“Oh, no, but thank you, dear. You can sit back down if you like.”, she offered, yet Amity stayed where she was, taking a sip of the water to moisturize her dry throat, before speaking again while the woman turned her back to her to start working on a machine Amity didn’t know.

“… Are you okay?”, she finally mumbled, and Camila stiffened, before looking back at her with a sad, tired smile.

“What can I say…? I haven’t heard from Luz for six years, I-… I went through all of this before. Sure, knowing for sure is-… Hard.”, she shrugged, before turning the machine on, “But it’s not new. I-… At some point, I knew. Getting my hopes up hurts, but I didn’t-… I-…”

Sighing, Amity nodded, before shuffling closer.

“If-… If you need anything, Mrs. Noceda, we’re more than willing to help. I’m-… I’m sorry it took us so long to build a new portal, but we’re here now, and we’d like to offer our support, all of Luz’s friends and me.”, she said and while Camila looked at her tiredly, she finally nodded.

“At-… At some point, I’d like to hear your stories about her.”, a small smile flickered over her features, “It’d be nice to feel her again, even if just for a moment.”

Looking back up to her, Amity’s eyes locked with those she had dreamed about so often already. Luz had looked very similar to Camila.

“We-… We fixed her a memorial, Mrs. Noceda. If you’d like to visit it.”

For a moment, she seemed like she’d consider it. The machine stopped working and Camila took the mug from it, blowing at it to cool it down some. Her eyes looked contemplative, but in the end, she shook her head.

“Not today. For today, I’d actually like to stay here.”

Nodding, Amity finished her glass of water and looked back to Camila, giving her a small bow.

“In that case, I’d-…”

Shaking her head quickly, Camila put her mug away, obviously fighting with her words.

“Wait, I-…”, she slanted her lips, before sighing, “I’d like you to stay, if that’s okay? I’m not ready to be alone yet, and Luz seemed close to you. Can-… Can you stay?”

Something insecure swung with Camila’s voice and suddenly, Amity felt very uneasy about leaving. She would rather even stay the night, judging by the sudden insecurity the older woman portrayed.

“Of course, Mrs. Noceda.”, she smiled, before offering her hands which Camila took. The warm hands reminded Amity so much of Luz’s, whenever she had taken hers to pull her into another adventure, just that Camila’s seemed so much calmer, even if they were rougher than Amity remembered Luz’s, “I can stay if you like.”

Camila managed a little smile, before taking her coffee again and leading Amity back to the living room after refilling her glass.

“So, Amity, was it?”, the young witch nodded, “How did you meet Luz?”

That question tickled out the first genuine laugh of the whole week.

“You see, Mrs. Noceda, I used to go to a school named Hexside…”

---

That killed me goodnight

[afuerterosa]

Lydia Danell Stone

Memphis:

|Checking my wrist, eyeing the thread that barely held together there I knew it was going to be any day now. I hadn't taken it off since @AFuerteRosa had tied it on my arm and worry had already taken up residence in my gut at the uncertainty of the last few days but if I knew anything, it was that fate would not get me this far only to take you from me now. Granted you weren't exactly human. You had been gifted certain abilities and skills, such as myself, that had carried you so far in this life, your purpose prior to me was laced up tight until the day I walked down that street. Mama Stone had told me the stories of Boston and how she almost lost him, how at the last minute Papa had called a second midwife in. A regular human hospital had been out in their case too and while Papa could soothe her heart from breaking, taking on a majority of her pain, there was something entirely different about this kind.

As I would come to find out, there were some pains you could protect a person from but others you could not. “Hijo de mi luz.” I could hear my mama like she was still here. The cadence in which her voice carried the name she would call us when we were kids had a way of wrapping us up in that blanket of warm comfort whenever we were scared. And while the memory was one of joy, that feeling of something horrible possibly happening or going wrong never went away fully. Not until it was over and Papa knew Mama Stone was okay, that Boston was going to be okay.

The percentage of death in mothers during childbirth didn't discriminate because you helped finalize one's passage to the other side. We all had a number, some were just called home sooner rather than later and while some comforts were bestowed upon us, there was still a chance that destiny could fuck it all up.

One bad decision could snowball from there and then you're left with the pieces trying to fit them back together into this new normal. Running my fingers through my hair, I blew out a calming breath trying to center myself long enough to get us through this next part, thinking about the first time I took your hand.

You had been so timid, so shy and not so trusting of me until that light from the street lamp burst, pitching us both into that same darkness. In that moment, I knew it was going to be okay.

That no matter what, we were going to be okay and just like with the lyrics from our song, we waited for that hint of a spark. It was that very second all hesitation left your body and you slipped your hand in mine, taking that chance. It felt like it was always meant to be this way.

And as with the natural progression of things, we found ourselves here. We were about to have a baby.

Suddenly, I was transported back, the memories of us always played on my personal station of repeat, however the present song playing was definitely a new release as I watched @AFuerteRosa make that face to keep from swearing. Again.|

Cara Mia, I already called and they are on their way. |We had everyone on standby and I wasn't taking any chances. No matter how much I channeled to soothe, something else was fueling our little nina and it wasn't the habaneros you had with breakfast.|

Lita:

•I had read about Braxton Hicks in that What to Expect When You're Expecting book. I also had researched everything under the moon about what to expect. To the point where you had taken my phone from me on a few occasions and "jokingly" threatened to disable Google from my phone.

Some women described it as strong period cramps. I could handle that. The word strong though. That was a tricky one. What wasn't bad to one might be earth shattering to another. Luckily, I had a high pain tolerance.

When that first Braxton Hicks contraction set in, I knew what it was immediately. I even boasted to you that all my research had been a good thing. Because now I was prepared. They were only mildly annoying, and passed pretty quickly. This, however, was not mildly annoying. This was MUCHO annoying. It felt like our little jalapeno was attempting to break free of my womb directly through my stomach. Unfortunately, I was now on another of those before mentioned time outs because I Googled...again. And under normal circumstances, I might have laughed at the images that popped up from the movies of aliens and other clearly fake things bursting from women's bellies. Today, was not a normal day and instead it sent me into a round of tears.

But now, whatever it was had let up. I think? Putting my hand on my belly, I did a check in. Everything felt normal. Or as normal as you could feel when you're doing your best impression of an overstuffed Walrus. My bras didn't fit. Under boob sweat did nothing for feeling sexy. My feet looked like tamales. Then there was the sharp pains down there. Sitting comfortably was out. Because just as she had run out of room, so had I. Shaking my head with a sigh I mumbled• Definitely not normal... •Refocusing, I attempted another check in. Si, everything felt similar to how it had been last night. Before she attempted to rip free of my belly. Offering you a smile, I spoke a little louder this time for you to hear• Maybe they don't need to come after all. •running my hand over mybelly and still smiling• I think it was just a... •On cue she did it again. This time I gripped the back of the couch with a sharp gasp that cut off my sentence as I whimpered out• Ay yi yi. No more habaneros.

Memphis:

Take my hand. |Having said that, I didn't wait for you to loosen your grip on the couch. The cushion, hell the whole damn thing could be replaced but you and our daughter could not.

One palm was flat against your belly, guiding over the thin soft material of your dress, pressing just enough to feel our baby kick against my hand as if to let me know "Hey! I'm still in here but I want the fuck out!" while my other took yours and laced our fingers together. No amount of smooth talk I did toward our little girl was working and the more she ignored my voice when I asked her to take it easy, the more uneasy I got in return.| Did you want to try a bath? I could even turn on the jets for us. She likes it, remember?

|Your face instantly fell, turning into the poster child of guilt and when you offered me that sheepish grin through gritted teeth, I couldn't help the words that left my lips next.| Or maybe you liked it and just told me that seeing how we have practically lived in the tub the last month. |Trying to make light of it now was probably not the greatest idea considering when you tried to give me that signature laugh of yours it quickly took a sharp turn into dark corners. In other words, major labor pains had hit their stride in this race.

The small bouts of rebound from the recovery of them seemed to go from long periods to short ones fast and when I finally saw those tears spring to your eyes again, that was it. My decision was made and we were getting up.| I'll carry you, Cara Mia. Bed or tub?

Lita:

•Me and my expressive face. It seemed to have gotten worse during this experience. Because as soon as you mentioned the bath, I gave myself away. And I couldn’t help but give a guilty laugh when you pointed it out. Only laughing was not something our little jalapeño appreciated at this moment. Maybe it was the tightening of my muscles when I did it? The slight jiggle of my stomach? Before I could think much more on that I was crying out• Dios mio! Period cramps, mi culo. Que locos. •My grip on your hand like a vice, and I probably left some nail marks too. But this… Another wave of nope was trying to rip through my lower abdomen and hoohah. I didn’t even register your question when you scooped me up• I changed my mind, mi amor. I don’t wanna do this anymore.

Memphis:

Hold on tight, baby.. |Where the fuck were they? Just as I was going to curse them to high heavens, I was swatted back down from the top by Mama Stone herself, when the cell in my pocket went off. The text alerting us that our midwife and company had arrived came through just as we reached the special room I had set up. Opting to help you sit on the bed for a moment, I was trying to be careful with my words as I punched the code to get in, to let them inside. Starting the bath was next and as I took my place right back before you, I tried my bestto use my gift to sooth you both, placing a kiss to your forehead when I do.| They are on their way inside and soon this will be all over. I promise you. Just breathe..

|It even sounded cliché and I don't know, shitty maybe? Just breathe but in that moment my eyes were pleading, begging you to understand that I was doing everything within my power that I knew to do to keep you safe, healthy but most of all, alive.|

Lita:

•I tried that breathing thing you see everyone do. But all it did was make me lightheaded. So that went out the window. Instead I opted for a series of whimpers and colorful words in both languages as I watched you begin filling the tub. And when you returned to stand in front of me I reached out and gripped the front of your shirt tightly. You weren’t getting away again any time soon. Not if I could help it. Shaking my head at your words, I was ready to tell you again I didn’t want to do this anymore. But the look in your eyes caused me to stop• Do you think they can knock me out? I don’t have to be awake for this right? That lady on the news gave birth in a coma.

Memphis:

I don't think that's how this works. |Actually, I was almost sure of it. The death grip that you had on my shirt was no match for the series of kicks our daughter gave you just then. Barely up on the bed, my arms circled around you to keep you steady even as I heard the shuffle of feet behind us.| Baby, I'm not going anywhere but I have to move in order for them to look at you. |I kissed your forehead again, reassuring you that I wasn't leaving and held our laced fingers up to prove my point.| I promise to hold your hand the whole time. I haven't broken a promise to you yet and I'm not starting tonight. So these lovely people are going to make sure of that. Isn't that right? |I looked at the audience that now surrounded us, sealing my fate with them all or rather theirs with us when my gaze reinforced my words pointedly at each one before turning back to you. With a collective "Oh yes! Absolutely!" officially behind us now, our personalized medical team got underway, checking your vitals and prepping you for possible delivery. And just like with the movies, it was like time stood still for only us the second your water broke. There was you and me, holding hands while the whirlwind of chaos ensued around us with machines beeping and daggers for scalpels being tossed in the air and caught. A signal from my brain that this was really about to happen when our first of two midwifes called out to direct you to give one good push..|

-----------------------------------------

Memphis:

|11.52 pm.. That was the time @AFuerteRosa brought our little girl into the world. The night of the 13th had its highs and lows but I had managed to soothe some of the pain just not all. And chaos be damned, our daughter wasn't taking no for an answer in making her appearance known. There was a time or five where I was sure my hand wasn't going to make it out alive by the death grip you had on it.

Remembering that pain from my arm being nearly ripped from its socket, I grinned thinking I would take that pain ten times over again if it meant I would be sitting here with you today. Watching you with our baby left me completely speechless at times and others, all I could do was grin ear to ear when she would start to coo.

The phrase a kid at Christmas came to mind then and if anybody was holding that title, it was me right now. I had already been fighting the reenactment of the Lion King. That desire to hold our daughter to the sky and demand that our kingdom bow before her had been great but with a light chuckle, I knew that was me being biased. Quietly opening the door to the room now, I entered with the box I had picked up during one of our numerous store trips. The boutiques and shops along the strip were no match for either of us when it came to decorating for our Lydia's arrival. With the plush Lulu The Lamb being no exception, I spoke low just to be sure as my feet carried me swiftly to you. Grinning wider when I see @AFuerteRosa holding our little one to her chest.| You want me to take her?

Lita:

•I had never been so thankful for my ability to heal quickly than I was now. It had been a handy thing when a target was extra spunky. Or that time I had been captured. But now, when an entire being had made its way into the world by way of my hoohah, I was thanking all that was holy that I would not be like the women on the baby shows I had been watching the last few months. It also made up for the fact that I didn't have any of the interventions available to me that regular human women did at the hospital.

Luckily, I had you by my side. My own personal pain killer. I shuddered to even try to guess how much worse it might've been without you there. And as if on cue, my thoughts seemed to summon you to the room. My whole face lighting up with a bright smile when I spotted you. That stuffed lamb in your hands earning a soft laugh that had Lydia commenting in baby noises• Si. She needs to spend some time with her Papa too.

Memphis:

|Setting the box down immediately and off to the side, I was quick to grab up Lulu and the soft plush blanket to match, placing them both on the bed beside you.| I don't know if you'll get her back once I take her, Cara Mia.

|I had been teasing just a bit as I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it too. Having read about the skin to skin contact further solidifying the bond between father and child, I gave you a wink first before slipping into the king size bed with you, offering a tender kiss to the top of her head after placing a meaningful one to your lips. Carefully taking Lydia when you hand her over and cradling her to my chest now.| You did you so good with her, baby. You really did. You feeling good?

Lita:

•Hormones were definitely raging. Because you taking off your shirt already had a lot of thoughts going through my mind that I had to suppress. Meeting your lips with a happy hum, I lifted her carefully from my chest and handed her over before turning on my side to face you. My smile so wide it almost made my cheeks hurt as I watch you with our little Lydia• Thank you, mi amor. I feel pretty good right now.

Memphis:

|Making faces at our little one was a first for me too. So many firsts I thought as I bumped her cute little nose with my own, whispering to her.| I promise to always protect you, mija. Sometimes that's not always going to be how you like it but it will be because your Mamá and I love you so very much. |Glancing over to you when I hear that familiar sniffle, I lean in to kiss away your tears, happy ones that they were and enjoy this time with you snuggled up with our baby.|

My heart is so full because of you. Both of you. My stomach on the other hand..|Just then, Lydia started to put up a fuss and I let out a chuckle.| Apparently, she is hungry again. Would you like something, Cara Mia? |I had the fridge stocked with anything we could want preparing for not just Lydia but @MindYourPanties and @LaLolaDelores too.|

Lita:

•Watching you with our little nina had my heart swelling and tears filling my eyes. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly fall any deeper in love with you, here we were. Laughing at myself when you kiss my tears away• You are already such a good papa. •Smiles as I continue to watch you. Only faltering when she starts to fuss• Oh, pobrecita. Tienes hambre? •Moves to sit up before finally answering your question• I could eat too. Si.

Memphis:

Si, she is. |Giving Lydia another huge grin and a kiss to her forehead before gently handing her over, I watched to make sure you were comfortable with her before grabbing up the soft blanket to cover around you both.| You can have anything you want. What sounds good? |Already feeling reluctant to leave you, I laughed more to myself with a shake of my head. I was just going to the kitchen not into town.| Name the first three things that come to mind. |Opting to leave my shirt off, I slide out of bed and head for the door, opening it as I waited to see what was on the menu for tonight and looked over my shoulder back to you.| I will be bringing back some dessert I know that. So main course only please. |grins|

Lita:

•Takes Lydia from you and gets us situated, smiling at you when you put the blanked over us• Hmm… •My mind going blank now that I don’t have her inside me to call the shots• I think my mind went blank. •cracks up• Rice? •nods slowly• Si. I want Spanish rice. Wait, it’s Tuesday isn’t it? Tacos. I want tacos and rice.

Memphis:

For two more hours or so.. |Smirks when I pause right outside the door and turn back, poking my head back into the room to see you loving on our baby girl once more.| That was two things. What is the third? Throw something random in there. |laughs|

Lita:

•brushes my fingers over Lydia’s head, humming softly before looking up at you in the doorway again• Um… •chews my bottom lip• Garlic bread. •laughs at the look on your face and shrugs a shoulder• It sounds good.

Memphis:

Garlic bread. |Laughing, I give a salute with a wink and head off for the kitchen. Taking a moment to check on the furry kids before I do. Gizmo hadn't left your side for most the day but there were others that had been acquired in the short time we had been here. Once I made those rounds, letting everyone out and back in, my sights finally landed on the industrial size fridge I had put in. Our family had grown into a family of five overnight with my brother's arrival and as I set the oven on to cook and got to work on the rice first, my thoughts drifted to the fact that they were really here. The story of their courtship was something even Papá would have been proud of I thought as I assembled the tacos next while the garlic bread finished baking. Finally plating up once it was all done and I loaded it up on a tray for us to enjoy together. My final destination for the night, our bedroom.| I hope this is to your liking, Cara Mia. |Grins proudly at the spread I sit out for you after I entered the room, seeing our Lydia fast asleep.| Has she been out long?

Lita:

•Once you left the room, I went back to humming to our little nina. The song I was humming oddly familiar as I wracked my brain to try and figure out where I had heard it from. It was Gizmo who reminded me when he nuzzled her little leg• You are just like Lady in that Disney movie… •pauses mid sentence and laughs• That’s it. Amor, you’re not the only one channeling that movie it seems. •laughs a little more before Lydia lets out a cranky fuss and I hush myself, beginning to rock her gently and hum again until she falls asleep, and looking up at you with a smile when you re-enter the room• She just drifted off. She has a full belly, a dry booty, and we had our own little Disney moment. •laughs softly as I carefully climb from the bed and lay her down in the bassinet•

Memphis:

She seems to be adjusting well to the sleep schedule so far. |Speaking of which, I gestured you closer before grabbing up your hand, pulling you over to sit beside me so we could dig into our food.| I suppose I might have jinxed us then so maybe we should eat while we can. |Chuckles low, trying not to wake the baby while she sleeps and I slide the plate with the rice on it before you. Grabbing up a taco for myself from the other.| Just in case she does wake up.

Lita:

•my eyes going wide when you say that before laughing when you say exactly what I was thinking• Si. Don’t jinx it. •slides back into the bed next to you, pulling the plate into my lap• I am starving. •scoops some of the rice up then pauses, turning to look at you with a wide smile• Thank you, amor. For making this so I can still eat good food instead of just some cereal or something.

Memphis:

You're not just feeding yourself but the baby too. |Takes another bite of my taco, finishing it off with another bite soon after and I wipe my mouth with a napkin.| Some cereal can be good for dessert but not the main course. No matter what others might think. |laughs again, grabbing up a bite of rice this time then promptly chowing down on another taco, dipping it into the sauce first.|

Lita:

•It was as if time froze at that moment, my mind capturing every detail of this moment. My handsome husband eating in the bed next to me, enjoying the feast he had just spoiled me with. Our first baby, Gizmo, dutifully watching everything at the foot of the bed. And our sweet little nina fast asleep in her bassinet. My heart was so full. And I was grateful for everything that had happened in my life up until this point. The good and the bad. Because it all brought me to this perfect moment in time that I wouldn't trade for the world•

[3laxx]

Bring It Home - Chapter 6

To her right, Emira was hopping in place, before winking at her while shaking her arms out.

They were ready and poised and wouldn’t leave any of this in one piece.

Growling in anticipation, Amity looked ahead to see Willow holding up the flag.

Another chapter???? I'm spoiling you guys

But I already wanna start on my big fanfiction!! And for that I promised myself to finish all open fanfics first, before starting the megaproject not to lose my motivation with too many options again. So bear with me, please xD

Ah right, warnings:

- MENTIONS OF ALCOHOL - DRINKING - THEY'RE ALL OF AGE RELAX THEY'RE ALL 18 OR OLDER

Ao3 / FF.net

---

Cracking her knuckles, Amity huffed, before focusing on the backyard full of things.

The eighteen-year-old had managed to convince her siblings to empty the attic of any and all furniture her parents didn’t and wouldn’t need anymore, most of it probably treasured family heirlooms that were left up there to rot.

Straightening her back and rolling her head, Amity breathed through, before looking ahead again.

They had assembled some furniture to the best of their ability after transporting them down here, but they had also just thrown some off the roof, for the fun of it. The backyard was littered with boards, glass shards, and assembled furniture, which looked kind of funny, actually.

Their parents were still on a business trip, for at least another week, so the twins had readily accepted Amity’s offer to clean up the attic. Especially if that meant smashing stuff.

Grinning, she looked to her left where Edric was rolling his shoulders and showed her a thumb up, grinning deviously. He had gloated about some new powerful spell he had been working on and had impatiently waited all day to try this out.

To her right, Emira was hopping in place, before winking at her while shaking her arms out.

They were ready and poised and wouldn’t leave any of this in one piece.

Growling in anticipation, Amity looked ahead to see Willow holding up the flag.

They had roped her in on this, mostly by worrying her about any injuries they could possibly get from punching glass, so Willow had proclaimed herself the judge of the race the siblings were planning and had positioned herself on the other end of their backyard.

Their goal was to race to the other side and leave as much destruction to the furniture as they possibly could. Leaving anything whole or causing damage to the lawn in any way would result in fewer points for the score since they didn’t want to have Willow repair their backyard for their parents not to notice what their children were up to.

Smirking to herself, Amity readied her fingers by flexing them, already planning on using her abominations to leave nothing but destruction and chipped wood.

Willow’s hand with the flag fell and Amity pounced.

Immediately, she conjured an abomination to crush the first piece of furniture beneath it, while she took off its arm to slice through the nearest chair. She worked quickly and effectively, using all her training with Eda and Lilith to be as fast and deadly as she could. She had learned to utilize her abominations as basically anything by now, to crush, slice, envelop and even impale if she wanted to.

After half the way, sweat already started running down her forehead and temples but she couldn’t deny how amazing it felt to smash up all the furniture the Blight family had hoarded over the years, probably hundreds of them, for her to smash up. The rotting boards were flying all around and she fell into a sort of trance while continuing to hack everything up to the best of her abilities.

Emira was mostly using magically enhanced martial art, which allowed her to move quicker but left less destruction than Amity or Edric.

Edric, on the other hand, was using fire magic and highly directive explosions, almost like fireworks and flamethrowers combined. She’d have to ask him for that spell after this was over.

Coming in as second, Amity finally held herself up on her knees and chuckled, before straightening up and high-fiving both her siblings. The sweat was running down her face and a flying glass shard had left a small cut on her forehead, making a small trail of blood run down her tumble as well. One of her lower arms had also gotten a cut, but she didn’t even feel the pain, she was too ecstatic for that. Neither did her siblings because they also had minor injuries but didn’t speak up about any of them.

Grinning, the Blight siblings approached Willow who was already waiting for them with her eyebrows quirking up.

“You look like you just fought for your lives.”, she remarked, before joining into their laughter and high-fiving them as well.

The youngest Blight straightened her back and glanced back to their warpaths. Edric’s furniture was still burning, Amity had stayed true to her promise only to leave chipped wood, and Emira’s side showed a similar state of destruction.

Unsurprisingly, Amity got the highest score for destruction, while Emira had won the time and Edric the most impressive spell. She suspected Willow had just given him the reward not to make him feel bad, though, even if his spell was really impressive.

“Hey, we still have a bit of furniture left. Edric, wanna show us that spell?”, Amity finally asked after regaining her breath, and her brother eagerly nodded, showing his sisters and Willow the spell on an old piano they had found. Imitating him, the girls giggled and laughed while blowing up all scrap furniture they found, before sitting down in the grass with some cool drinks and a few towels to dry the sweat on their skin.

Humming, Amity touched glasses with everyone, before taking a deep gulp of her beverage, already feeling the alcohol pleasantly numbing her nerves after such a workout. Willow and Edric shared a harder drink while Emira and her had gone for a lighter cocktail because they had physically worked harder and didn’t want to lose their minds immediately.

Their backyard was still partially burning, but the siblings and Willow were all relaxed about it. They were probably going to burn all the scrap they had produced later, and they were positive about nothing else catching fire, so they opted to lie down for now and relax.

Amity removed her arms from beneath herself and lied down on the grass, closing her eyes when she enjoyed the evening sun. Smiling to herself, she finally indulged in her memories again.

Luz would’ve had so much fun today. Amity knew how much her late friend loved to use her glyphs in new and exciting ways and she would’ve given everything to graduate with a blow like this.

She briefly wondered how Luz would look like now. Maybe her face would be sharper like Amity’s had become, and she’d lose her chubby baby cheeks that made Amity smile every time she looked at the pictures of her and the human.

Maybe she’d be taller than her now, but she imagined her laugh would still be the same. It had to be. Amity imagined it as cheerful as back then, even if she could never know what it would sound like now.

And her eyes wouldn’t change she was sure. They would still be the same wonderful brown she remembered, and they would still shine with everything that she enjoyed. She would still probably fangirl about Azura ever since their favorite ship got together at the end of the last book almost four years ago. Smiling to herself, Amity daydreamed a bit but flinched when her sister punched her arm.

“Hey mittens, what’re you thinking about.”, she playfully asked and Amity growled.

“None of your business.”, she snapped and Willow chuckled.

“I know what she’s thinking about.”

Without further prompting, Amity felt something fluttering on her stomach and opened her eyes to see the old piece of paper, almost falling apart from the usage, that Willow had thrown there.

When she sat up, her old friend already gave her a pen and softly smiled.

“It’s time for another check off the list, isn’t it?”

With her breath hitching, Amity opened the bucket list and looked over the tasks she had completed.

The Azura book had three checks behind it by now, and she had given up on counting Skiing. She had also skipped school about five times, resulting in five checks.

Next was to smash something.

Grinning, Amity clicked the pen and drew a satisfying check behind the task, before looking up to their backyard with the chipped wood and burning furniture.

“She would’ve enjoyed this.”, Amity mumbled and Edric nodded.

“I’ll drink to that.”, he slurred and downed his drink, making his sisters giggle.

“Slow down Edric, we don’t wanna clean up your bedroom from your vomit again.”, Emira chastised him and smacked his shoulder, making him scowl.

“That never happened!”, he retorted but Amity just shook her head.

“Sure, that happened!”, Emira bit back and lifted her chin at him, “At the graduation party we threw!”

Willow laughed and nodded.

“Oh yeah, I remember that party. That was fun.”

Emira pushed Amity’s shoulder.

“Mittens’ first blackout!”, she giggled and Amity rolled her eyes, taking another gulp from her drink. Rolling her eyes, she finally replied.

“Only because you gave me the drink. I didn’t know it was way harder than you let on.”, she grumbled but Emira merely laughed, along with Edric and Willow. Thinking back to the party, Amity shook her head over her blazing blush. She was just glad Luz hadn’t been there to see her throwing off her shirt and jumping on the table in a bra before proceeding to breathe fire. It had been funny, admittedly, and she had enjoyed living it up like this for once, but she was still glad her crush hadn’t witnessed that.

Smiling to herself, she looked out to the backyard again, drinking a gulp from her bottle.

What she would’ve given to share this moment with Luz, though.

Sitting in the grass with people she loved, looking out to the destruction they had caused, completely powered out and holding a drink, feeling like an adult. Smiling to herself, she finished the drink before getting up.

“Come on, let’s put out the fires before the grass starts burning.”, she called and Edric groaned.

“I need more alcohol for that!”

“No, you need less alcohol for that. That stuff burns, you idiot.”

“Who said I wanna pour it on the flames?!”

Willow and Amity laughed at her siblings’ bickering, shaking their heads as they went to start collecting the pieces of wood.

---

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