Chapter Text
"When will they come?" Amber asked, splayed over the sofa. "If they don't come soon, I'm going to my room!"
"Well, somebody is a moody teenager," King scoffed, "Move! I want to sit there too!"
Eda leaned on the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest, flexing the fingers of her prosthetic as she observed her kids. Her first one, the young titan and the girl who got the title of “Eda’s kid” at some point during the months after the Collector's depowering. Up until a few minutes earlier, Eda was helping Raine and Lilith with the meal in the kitchen.
However, the prosthetic she wore was new, courtesy of the new and improved Blight Industries and, while remarkably comfortable, her body was still adjusting to it. A few hours into the meal prep, she felt familiar unpleasant tingles in her nubbin and decided to take a break. No need to risk triggering phantom pain, especially considering the surprise she had in store for Raine later.
She savoured moments like this, moments that became increasingly frequent in the months following Belos’ defeat and clearing things out with a very powerful very misguided but ultimately well-meaning god-child that now lived under her roof. Moments during which, despite everything, the kids were still, unmistakably, just rambunctious kids. Or a kid and a teenager.
"You have other places to sit!” Amber rolled her eyes, “Why Here?"
"Because you are in my spot! Move!" King scrambled up on the sofa and not-so-gently pushed Amber away. A year ago, that would pose no threat beside mild discomfort. But the young titan grew in the months since the Day of Unity, reaching the size of an average 6-year-old and the strength of a pre-teen. The girl fell to the ground with a thud.
King stretched on the sofa with a satisfied sigh and Amber let out a disgruntled huff, her long hair messily framing her face, "Oh, now you're done for!" She growled.
"Huh?"
Amber jumped up and landed on top of King who let out a painful grunt.
"Get off me! You are crushing the Titan! Blasphemy!"
"Oh yeah? Well, what is the Titan going to do about it?"
King wiggled underneath her, freeing his arms and took a deep breath.
"Oh no you won't!" Amber tried to clasp his mouth, but he poked her into the side, causing her to flinch and laugh. Amber had a huge weakness when wrestling-she was horribly ticklish.
King let out a mild "WEH", making the girl fly off him and land at bottom of the sofa with a grunt.
"Titan's going to do that!” he got to his feet and pointed a finger at Amber, “Victory is mine!"
"Oh, I wouldn't bet on that!" Amber reached into her pocket and pulled out her flute.
“Do your worst!” King stood his ground.
Eda immediately scrambled from her position and towards the kids. Her prosthetic arm grabbed Amber’s flute while she clamped her left hand around King’s mouth.
“Hey!” Amber snapped her head towards Eda.
“Mph!” King eyed her dangerously.
“If you two promise to behave, I’ll let you go! Ok? Now, I don’t want to hear any WEH-ing or any bard music, ok?” she let the two go and they immediately started bickering again.
"She took my spot!" King accused.
"He called me a moody teenager! And he blasted me!" Amber lamented.
Eda rolled her eyes at both, "King, you have a whole other sofa to sit on, Amber, he is right, you are a moody teenager! Now, if you're going to bicker, fine, but don't have magic involved because I don't want you to wreck the living room before Raine's birthday celebration! And I don’t want us to spend their birthday at a healer’s."
"Maybe we should not encourage bickering," Raine came over from the kitchen wiping their hands into a dishcloth. They wore a simple red shirt with puffy sleeves rolled up above their elbows and a brown skirt they "borrowed" from her, both protected by the apron that read Kiss the cook.
It was only natural that Eda was dressed in a dark, sleeveless, red dress with a vest over it she "borrowed" from them.
"Hey, you constantly insist we're 'basically siblings' now!" Amber pointed out.
"Yeah! And siblings' fight!" King added.
"They are correct about that Rainestorm," Eda snickered.
“You seem to be getting along decently now,” Raine pointed out.
“We’re totally not!” Amber pouted.
“Yeah, we’re just trying to explain that if you want us to be siblings, fighting comes with that! Look at her and Lilith!” he pointed at Eda.
"Well, speaking of Lilith, now you can go and fight over her green sofa because I'm using the red one. Move!" Eda shooed the kids away and sat down. However, neither Amber nor King moved. Amber made herself comfortable, curling up on Eda's right side, while King climbed into her lap.
"I demand scratches!"
Eda ignored him, took off her prosthetic, and placed it on the coffee table. She rubbed the residual limb which helped the tingling go away before resting her other arm on the back of the sofa.
"Amber, you have two arms, and you haven't been cooking for the past two hours. You can scratch him. "
"Nope, I'm off to my room, you'll all be too sappy, " Amber said and rushed to her room in the basement.
King, still on Eda's lap, looked up at Raine, giving his best puppy eyes to the bard, "Scratches?"
They looked towards the kitchen, "Oh, ok, I guess I can spare a few minutes, I’m sure Lilith and Hooty can manage!" They sat on Eda's left.
“You’re too soft,” she bemoaned.
“Oh, well, I can leave,” they pretended to get up, but she grabbed their shirt, keeping them down.
“Nope! Now that you sat down, you’re staying here, softie,” she teased.
“So, not too soft after all, huh?”
“Oh, no, you definitely are,” Eda insisted.
“Eh, you love me for it,”
“Hey, less flirting, more scratching!”
“Really, you’ll be like that, on my birthday?” Raine joked.
“Your birthday was five days ago. Now it’s just your birthday party!” King pointed out, “So, scratches,” he looked up at them adding, “Please?”
Raine leaned on Eda’s shoulder and started scratching their son's back. They snaked their other arm around Eda to reach her nubbin and gently massaged it, summoning soothing bard magic into their fingers.
Eda closed her eyes and leaned her head on theirs, and, after about a minute, Amber was back from her room and she sat next to them, curled up with her scroll. Raine smiled. Maybe they were too soft, but they didn’t care. Everyone in their life, including themselves, deserved some of that softness.
Over a year has passed since Belos was defeated and the Collector befriended. The Star Child, after helping fix the damage he caused, ended up living, where else, but at the Owl House. It was a strange dynamic, especially for a while, but, they were making it work. Of course, Eda ended up being the one taking care of an immortal child without anyone else in the world.
He was, despite everything, a kind kid even if Raine always felt a tiny bit uneasy around him. They knew that he didn't mean any harm, but being in puppet form was still a harrowing experienced.
They could still feel compassion for the child, especially considering what happened later, the way Belos' used them to manipulate Collector. They knew that the kid was not completely at ease around them either. Sure, Belos may have been the one pulling the proverbial strings, but it was still Raine's face and voice that the child connected with the trickery. At least the two could agree that, as Collector aptly put it, Belos was the most worsest, baddest, awfulest person and he totally deserved to be petrified!
After King managed to talk Collector down from their revenge fuelled by Belos’ lies and manipulation, and after the two friends managed to have that immortal being to semi-immortal being talk, the Collector made a remarkably mature decision.
“I don’t understand my powers, I think. Not really. If I did, Belos wouldn’t be able to trick me. I would know that no friendship magic could make Raine move. And I would know that being a puppet is not good. So…I want to lock them away. For now. Is that ok?”
A year later, Collector slowly started to take some of his power back. However, there was a side-effect to their depowerement-he would take really, really long naps. Sometimes, it would be easy to wake him, and other times, not so much.
He was asleep at the moment, and Raine felt a strange mix of guilt and relief that it was so on their birthday. Their parents could only make it that weekend, so that is what determined the date of the party. And, while the entire household of the Owl House and the regular visitors, such as Blights, Darius and Parks, got pretty much entirely used to the Collector, their parents less so.
It was easier this way if the kid was soundly asleep during the festivities. Right?
Right?
The kid was there during the last party they had, at Camila’s place. Strangely, the human was rather unphased by the Collector’s nature, treating him like she would any other young child with some tantrum-issues.
But it was the same human who was pretty chill with her daughter travelling between realms, adopting a basilisk and a grimwalker and accepting the demon realm as her daughter's second home.
They chuckled at the memory of the victory anniversary that was a few weeks ago.
"What?" Eda opened one of her eyes languidly to look at them.
"Nothing, I'm just remembering how almost all of us, vital people for Belos' defeat, ran off to the human realm for a day to hide from the celebration, while the Collector promptly fell asleep on Camilla’s couch.”
"Um, we did our part, kids especially,” Eda scoffed, “we can enjoy the rest of our lives instead of dealing with the memories of the hardest part of those lives while in the spotlight," she glanced around the living room, her disposition turning blue. “Just, enjoying a meal and trying not to cry too much while at Camila’s…” her voice sadly trailed off.
"Eda?" they shifted so they could throw one arm over her shoulders.
She glanced at them, her eyes darting between their face, King, and Amber. Their face still wore scars from the draining spell even if their magic returned. The marred skin on their ear and cheek from the possesion. There were still days when they would walk with a cane because they were in pain or their legs felt too weak. She glanced at King’s skull, where a small crack faded into a slightly raised scar but was still visible. The notch in Amber’s ear that the girl earned in one of the fights and the draining spell scars on her arm, much less prominent than Raine’s, but still present. She sighed, "Eh, just…lost myself in my thoughts for a moment…"
Memories of the rest of the year flooded her mind. Difficult moments right after the fight. Returning to her empty home, talking to Camila, figuring out Luz’s and Hunter’s living situation, learning to live with the Collector, rebuilding Dell's old tower, accepting yet another kid into her life, rebuilding her relationship with Raine, them moving in, friendships and bonds she formed through the months of anguish that remained just as strong in everyday life. It was a million wonderful, warm moments with her family and friends.
“Eda? Are you ok?” she heard King ask. She felt his arms wrapped around her middle as he was looking up at her. She could feel Raine’s concerned eyes on her as well.
“I’m fine,” she wiped away tears, but smiled, “Those bad memories...turned into good ones,” she looked at Raine, “Sorry. I don’t want to spoil your party by being a downer.”
They pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, “You could never ruin my birthday. Besides, I’m to blame, I brought the topic up.”
"Mhm," she chuckled, "now, to make up for it, you'll stay here with King and I for cuddles." She pulled her good arm behind them again.
"Oh, what a horrible punishment," Raine laughed, "you are a cruel one, Owl Lady!"
"Shut up!" she playfully shoved them with her knee, and they rested their head on her shoulder as she started playing with their hair. They kept it longer now, similar to the style they wore in their youth, and she more than liked that. King stretched over both of their laps, as Amber started scratching his back too.
She liked this. She had to focus on this. And, she looked around the house, other signs of life that were there. Because, while sure, the scars from the fight were visible on all four of them and all of their friends and family, and there were still signs of the EC raid on the house itself, like the chipped corner of the fireplace and the scratches in the wooden floor, there were sigs of people and the joy brought there.
King's plushies scattered around, ever-present music sheets, one of Luz's DVDs, a few star-shaped toys belonging to Collector, Amber's hairbrush which never seemed to be in its place, a small pile of clothes that accumulated on the futon, a box of sewing supplies she kept on the fireplace for when Hunter would stay over…
There were moments, very few moments, when she missed the peace and quiet of the before. When it was just her, King and Hooty. But those moments were so few and far in between and she wasn't certain if she truly missed those or just wanted some Eda-time.
The Owl House was now almost always bustling. Raine, King, Hooty, Amber, Collector and herself were the full-time residents. Luz lived between the Owl House and the Noceda House, spending most weekdays and busier weekends in the demon realm, while the more relaxed weekends and school breaks she would spend with her mum and sister.
Katya and Derwin lived in the young woman's apartment, but they spent so much time at the Owl House, they might as well be living there. Lilith, who now held a job as a historian in Bonesborough, would come over for late lunch or dinner at least four times a week.
Finally, there was Hunter. The kid's living situation was complicated but he himself claimed it was in a good way. Eda's hunch after the battle was right, he was now a Noceda, as Luz seemed to view him as a brother as much as she saw King and Vee as siblings and Camilla treated him as her son. However, there was also Darius. Or, as she liked to call him, much to his pretended chagrin, Dadrius. The abomination master and the boy didn't have the smoothest start, but who was she to judge? She was the one who referred to her own son as a 'roommate' for eight years.
In the end, Darius and Camila found themselves in the strangest case of split custody ever. Hunter spent about half the time living with Darius and Eber at the Villa Damonnae and half the time in the human realm at the Noceda House. However, he would spend a lot of time in the Owl House as well. She was not too stubborn to admit that, in addition to King, Luz, Collector and Raine's kids, she viewed Hunter as one of her own as well.
"Eda, Raine? Will you come over or should I finish the meal myself!" Lilith burst into the living room, snapping the four out of their calm.
"Ugh, five minutes! Five minutes of peace," Eda groaned, "King, shift a bit, your elbow is burying into my thigh and you're not 15 pounds anymore."
She was very much aware of the fact that her son grew. It still took her off guard sometimes.
"Sister!"
"Fine, fine, Lily, Here, come over and help me up and I'll give you a hand!"
Lilith walked over to Eda, not paying much attention to her. When she came over, she helped Eda get up and then, Eda reached for her prosthetic and placed it into Lilith's hand.
"Edalyn!"
"What," Eda snickered, "told you I'd give you a hand! I give you a hand and a whole forearm and you’re still complaining!"
"For titan's sake, Eda…" Lilith rolled her eyes, as did Amber.
"Ha! You got bamboozled!" King laughed.
"I see we got to the daily hand puns," Raine chuckled in fond exasperation.
"Don't worry, Rainstorm, I won't let this get out of hand!"
"Eda!" Lilith groused as Raine laughed, "Don't encourage this!" She pointed a finger at them.
"Hey, let them be! Or you'll have to fight with me! And I can-"
"Oh, please don't," Lilith sighed, “please don’t say it…”
"-defeat you single-handedly!"
"Ugh…you're cool but your puns are not!" Amber complained.
"Well, you two are a handfull so I'm having my revenge!" Eda reached over to ruffle the girl’s hair.
"Ugh! No! Stop! Lilith, I'll come help you just to escape this!" Amber jumped of the sofa.
"Coming to hang out with your cool aunt Lilith,” the historian said smugly, as she fixed her glasses. The absurdity of her words was exacerbated because she wore an old Hexside debate team T-shirt, a Please, DO NOT kiss the cook! apron in purple and grey and every part of her body, including her hair which she once again dyed black but was now shorter and back to its natural curliness, was streaked with either flour or jam.
"Call yourself that one more time and I'll going back to my room!'
"Amber, be nice!" Raine called after her, then turned to Eda, "are you ok?"
"Don't worry, I know what's on your mind," Eda cupped their cheek, "I'm not just pretending I'm fine for your sake. I'm happy. I just got sad for a moment, that’s all. But now," she pressed a quick kiss to their lips, "I'm happy."
"So am I. Now, shall we see if Lilith needs more help? Or do you need rest?"
"I'm fine, just need rest from that thing," Eda pointed her chin at the prosthetic. “Free the nubbin and all that jazz!"
Raine snorted, "Eda!"
"What?"
They walked over to the kitchen where they found Lilith. She was decorating the cake, leaning very close to it.
"Lily, a millimetre more and you'll dip your nose into the frosting!" Eda snorted as she went to check on the soup on the stove. Kraken soup, Raine’s favourite, with some adjustments so their human guests could enjoy it as well.
"Oh, let me be, Edalyn, it has to be perfect for my favourite future sibling-in-law!" Lilith said, "aaaand done! Now we wait for Luz' because she insisted, she wants to do the rest of the decorations!"
"Wait? So, what were you doing?" Amber frowned.
"This!" Lilith presented the cake with the number 46 written on it in her lovely cursive and a very neat wreath around the edge of the cake, "Now Raine finally joined the late 40s club with me and Eda!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Eda warned, "hold your ratworms Lily! 46 is not the late 40s! You are still a one-member club! Raine and I are perfectly happy in the mid-40s club along with Darius and Alador, thank you very much."
"Do mention 46 Being late 40s around Darius though," Raine snickered, "I want to see his reaction!"
"Rainstorm!” Eda raised her eyebrows in surprise, clearly impressed, “Where is this coming from!"
"Eh, you are a bad influence!"
"Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty poked his head into the kitchen, "first guests are arriving!"
"Hey guys!" They heard Katya's voice from the living room, "Derwin and I are here! Where do we leave presents for Raine?"
"In my room!" Amber shouted.
"Ok, so," Lilith looked over the kitchen, "we have a problem! We have only one bottle of desert mudberry wine!"
"Well, Alador, my parents and I are the only ones that drink that, and we can probably-" Raine started to say but was cut off by Lilith.
"We’re also out of blister sprouts! I need them for salad!"
"Well, don't count on me, sis, I'm not going anywhere,” Eda sat down on the window seat, “I'm waiting for Luz!"
"And so am I!" Katya called from the hall, “I gotta show her the newest pages for my comic!”
"I mean…I could go…" Raine offered.
"Great!" Lilith grabbed them, summoned her staff, and pulled them onto it, "Let's go before everyone arrives!"
Eda looked after them as they left, meeting Raine’s confused glance.
Lilith played her part of the plan perfectly.
As soon as they were out of the room, she left Hooty to handle the food, and joined the BATs in the living room. "Ok, now, that they left, let’s go through with the plan!"
……
Eda and the BATs planned a surprise for Raine. Ever since Eda got her new prosthetic, one meant for finer motoric tasks, she’d been re-learning how to play the lute. It’s been frustrating at times, to get a handle on the skills she once had. But she truly wanted to play with Raine once again.
And was there a better way to start playing again than re-learning how to play Raine’s Rhapsody as a surprise gift for their birthday? When they heard of her plan, Katya, Derwin and Amber wanted in, Not to play Raine’s Rhapsody with her though, that song was Eda’s and Raine’s thing. So, the three of them and Eda opted to play Raine’s favourite birthday song. It was a simple tune, which Eda was grateful for.
As frustrating as it could get, learning to play again and playing with BATs, it was also fun. And pretty good bonding time with the trio. Her lute was currently magically blocked with a simple spell. She could only play, not produce bard spells. A measure to prevent Eda’s curse from messing her surroundings up.
Currently, Eda was playing her part of Raine’s rhapsody with Hooty, King, palismen and the three young bards as her audience. Owlbert and Katya’s cricket have recently gotten two more friends as, Amber and Derwin bonded with palismen as well. Derwin bonded with the blue, long-necked animal that Eda recognized as one of the palisman from the first Palisman adoption day at Hexside, while Amber had a hedgehog she found while sneaking out to a party one night.
As refined and expertly made as her prosthetic was, it was still hard to get her mechanical fingers to cooperate. The mistakes in her music were many and she cringed at the final note of the rhapsody.
“Whoa! Go mama Eda!”
“Don’t overly flatter me, kid, that was average at best,” she waved Amber’s cheer away.
Sounds good, sounds good! Owlbert perched on her shoulder.
“Don't worry Eda, they'll love it!" Derwin reassured her.
"Yeah, you're doing great!" King agreed.
"I know, I know,” she sighed, “I just want it to be perfect for them, you know?"
"Hoot! Hoot! More guests coming! And they are fighting!" Hooty opened the door, revealing Alador, Eber, and Darius.
"...that is why you should've let me pick the wine!" Darius walked in first, two large bags and a box in his arms. Dressed in a perfectly-pressed lavender shirt and black trousers, with a long, elegant, almost dress-like violet jacket over it, he, as always, looked out of place in the messy living room.
"Oh right, Darius, the wine expert!" Alador said sarcastically. In a slightly wrinkled grey shirt, dark trousers and a purple vest that Eda recognized as new, but already had an abomination-goo stain on it, he looked like he fit into the chaos much more.
He was carrying two carefully wrapped presents and a smaller box that somewhat looked like a kid decorated it for first day of fall project. At least it wasn’t hard to guess which gift was Eber’s.
"I am, in fact, a wine expert!” Darius insisted.
“You don’t even drink mudberry wine!”
“I do, but only when it’s exquisite!”
"Well, the one you bought last week was definitely not exquisite, let alone worth the money!"
"It was, you just have no taste, Hack!"
Eber walled after the two, looking utterly done with both. They were carrying a large pot and made a beeline for the kitchen, their eyes meeting with Eda’s as they made an exaggerated eyeroll.
Hi Eda, they let out a hum, good to be with people. Other people who not these knuckleheads.
"You know Bright, goo-boy, usually when you enter someone's House, it's polite to greet them!" Eda said from her position on the floor.
"Oh, right, apologies,” Alador smiled, “Hello Edalyn, Katya, Derwin, Amber, Hooty, assorted palismen," only to turn to Darius again, "now, as I was saying"
"Whoa, whoa! Just a moment, Alador," Darius placed his boxes on the sofa and raised his hand to pause his partner, staring at Eda in disbelief, "did you just give me a lesson in manners? You?"
"Yeah, me! I may not be mister prim and proper,” she said, making air quotes, “but I know how to greet people when I enter their houses!"
"She did greet us the last time she was over at your place!" Alador pointed out.
"And proceeded to put her legs on the coffee table!"
“Hey, I took my shoes off!”
"Well, we didn't even greet her properly,” Alador shrugged, before turning smug again, “I mean, I did! Belatedly, but I did! You on the other hand…”
"Whose side are you on?" Darius asked in frustration.
"The side of the truth!"
"Oh, for the love of-" Darius was exasperated, "just get the boxes to wherever they keep the presents! And you will apologise to Raine when they realise, we brought the wrong wine! This,” he shook the bag in his hand, “is way too bitter for their taste!"
"You know, Darius just because you and you are a picky ass, doesn't mean Raine is," Eda jabbed.
"Oh, so you'll be perfectly happy to play your imperfect rhapsody?" Darius teased.
"Ass!" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "So, how are things in paradise?"
Darius ignored her.
Eber, who returned from the kitchen, answered instead, Bickering. Loud. Like a dire wolf and a wild cat.
"Don't listen to him, we're fine," Darius sighed and Eda was, weirdly enough, inclined to believe him
The chemistry between him and Alador had been obvious for months, and finally, two months ago, just days before the victory anniversary, the two officially got together. However, they skipped the whole honeymoon phase and went straight into the "bickering married couple" phase. The two families didn’t technically live with each other but they spent so much time together, with Blights going to Villa Daemonne or Darius, Eber and Hunter to the Blight manor they might as well have.
If it was someone else, she'd be worried, but it was clear to everyone who knew them that under that surface-level squabble, was love, respect and a strong, reforged bond. The vitriol that existed between them for years was long gone and most of their bickering was either unimportant and lacked malevolence, or were more serious, but respectful arguments during which they actually managed to listen to one another.
Dire Wolf and wild cat that love each other a lot, Eber added, which, in Eda’s opinion, was a decently apt way of describing Darius’ and Alador’s relationship.
"Shut up, Mutt," Darius muttered affectionately.
Are you denying? Eber poked.
Darius sighed, but his eyes were fond, “No, I’m not,” he said just as Alador re-entered the room. Judging by the blush colouring his cheeks and the loving way he looked at Darius, he didn’t miss a single word of the conversation.
Also, Owl Lady, your rhapsody, imperfect but still sounds good to my ears.
"I'm no expert," Alador said, "But I've heard enough performances to recognize good from bad. You sound good."
"As if that matters, Raine would listen to anything you play even if it sounded like caffeine-high Eber jumping on the untuned piano!"
It was one time!
"Yet my ears are still traumatised."
Snob!
"Mutt!"
"Hey, hey, you two, calm down! Alador will get jealous!"
Alador looked at her with confusion, "Why would I get jealous? I'm perfectly fine with their friendship."
"Don't mind her, maybe she is just projecting!" Darius teased.
"Oh, shut up!" Eda tossed another pillow at him, which harmlessly hit him in the knee.
"Wow, you’ve really gotten soft!" Darius laughed, "I remember Eda who threw much more dangerous items at people!"
"Fine, I can throw that," she pointed to a sword leaning against the fireplace, "if you'd like."
"Calm down, I'm pretty sure a gruesome injury of their best friend would ruin Raine's day!" Alador, momentarily, looked genuinely worried.
"Eh, don't worry, Blight, I would aim to maim, not kill your lover!"
Alador turned bright red, Eber snorted, and Darius pinched the bridge of his nose, "You are insufferable."
"Are you not…lovers…" she wiggled her eyebrows at them, promoting Alador to go full tomato mode and Darius to Chuck a blob of abomination goo at her, which she blocked with an ice glyph.
"Please, just don’t phrase it that way around the kids," Alador chuckled in embarrassment.
Eda chuckled right along with him. She still remembered the utter panic and confusion that change in relationship left his kids, and Hunter, in.
Both Amity and Hunter came to talk to Luz separately, which only led to more chaos because neither realised the other was there. It was fine in the end, but she'd never forget the haunted what now looks of the the two supportive, but confused kids.
"Where are your kids, by the way?" Amber asked Alador, "It's just me and King and a bunch of boring adults."
"They are in the human realm," Alador answered, "Amity and Luz' went to a movie premiere, Edric has a project for his beast-keeping class. He is making a report on giraffes. And Emira is there to make sure he doesn’t get side-tracked, her words, not mine."
Everyone on the room shuddered at the mention of the long-necked animals, and even Eber's eyes widened in shock, Brave, brave, crazy cub.
"I told him to stick to beasts we didn't banish but…." Alador shrugged, "He and Augustus are working on that project together, even though, as far as I know, Augustus is not in beast keeping. I think Edric mentioned something about re-establishing communication with giraffes.”
“Yeah, Goops wants to do that,” Eda confirmed.
Brave, brave, crazy cub, Eber repeated.
“I can’t stop Edric from working on said project,” Alador shrugged, “Not that I want to crush his passion, I just want him to stay safe,” he added quickly, and Eda could feel the unspoken not anymore in the air. It truly was amazing, seeing his transformation in the last year and the vigour with which he now wanted to be involved in his children's lives.
“Hey, is it true that a giraffe can smell a witch a mile away?” Amber asked Eber.
“And, and,” Derwin jumped in, “Are there bard spells we could learn that work against them. Just in case. You know, for the next time we visit the human realm.”
As Alador, Eber, Amber and Derwin proceeded to discuss the dangers of giraffes, Eda played the last part of the rhapsody again. It sounded better than before but she was still painfully aware of her fumbles.
“Ok, one more time, even if it will not do much good,” Eda said, rolling her shoulder and adjusting the prosthetic slightly.
“Maybe you should rest,” Katya gently reached out towards her, placing her hand on Eda’s, “You play well already!”
“I don’t need well, I need perfect!”
“What you need is to listen to her. She is a bard, after all,” Darius pointed his chin at Katya, “That sounded fine. I may not have the astute ear of a bard, but you know I have standards. So trust me when I say, while that is not perfect, it sounds good. If I can listen to you and like it, Raine will love it.”
“You know, Daemonne, you always had a way of saying the nicest things in the snobbiest way possible,” Eda snickered, “thanks.”
“It’s a talent," he grinned.
“Now rest!” King ordered.
“Rest is important!” Hooty added.
Owlbert perched on her shoulder, Don’t over-exhaust yourself.
“Yeah, I saw how you get when you wear that thing for too long,” Amber ganged up on her too, “and if it hurts, you won’t be able to play at all and then our surprise is ruined!”
"As the creator of the prosthetic, I also have to advise you against the overly prolonged use while you're getting used to it," Alador jumped in.
“All right, all right, you convinced me!” Eda placed her lute aside and carefully took the prosthetic off, “Ganging up on me like that, jerks, all of you! Happy?”
“Yup!” King curled up in her lap.
“Is it working properly?” Alador wondered, "The prosthetic?"
“Oh, yeah, you’ve outdone yourself with this one, Blight. I still use the Marilyn 2.2 for most tasks, but this, what did you call it? 3.1? Yeah, works great for the finer things. I just need to adjust to it.”
“Glad to hear it,” Alador grinned.
“Eda, when are Luz and the others from the human realm coming? Or your dad with Hunter?” Amber wondered again, sprawled over the floor. “Ugh…I wish Collector would wake up at least…even if he’s like a real little kid, but whatever!”
“What, still beats us-“
“Boring adults? Yes!”
“Will you stop calling us boring?” Darius asked.
Alador chuckled, “Oh are you really upset that a 19-year-old finds a few mid-40s-olds boring? Wow…” he teased.
“Shut up, hack…”
“Darius Daemonne, an abomination magic master, former coven head, a rebel leader, a fabulous dresser, but despite it all-“
“Alador…” Darius tried to sound exasperated but could not hide the fond chuckle in his voice.
“-just as boring adult as the rest of us! And offended for being called boring to boot!” Alador finished, staring up at Darius smugly. The taller witch shook his head but leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Alador’s lips. Alador chuckled into it and then leaned on Darius’ shoulder.
“Did someone tape that?” Eda snickered, “Because, next time Darius calls me and Raine diabetes-inducing, I want to rub this into his and Blight’s face!” she added and earned a pillow to face from Darius.
Katya frowned, “Hey wait a minute, they all might be middle-age, but Derwin and I are here! And King!”
“King is fine, but you two are also boring adults!”
“What? Well, I mean, technically, but we’re only a bit older than you!”
“Yeah, but you live on your own, you pay the bills, do boring adult stuff," Amber counted on her fingers, "Therefore, you are boring adults!” she poked her friend in the ribs teasingly.
Katya snorted, “Pfft, If I am an adult, why don’t I have my life figured out?”
Eda snickered at her comment "Kid, adulthood, in that sense, is a myth! And I don't mean like giraffes or possums, I mean an actual myth!"
Darius looked at her snidely, "Eda, just because some of us are a mess, doesn’t mean there aren’t adults with put-together lives.”
“Well, you must be talking about some random guy, gal or non-binary pal because I don't see anyone with their life figured out here," Eda snickered, "Oh, you meant yourself?" She feigned surprise, "Guys, Darius is convinced he has his life together…yeah… who is going to tell him? Blight? Maybe you should, as his boyfriend, tell him he is delusional? Honestly in a relationship and all that junk!"
Everyone in the room, Aldor included, laughed as Darius looked utterly done with everyone.
"Why am I even here?" Darius sighed.
Because you love us, Eber nuzzled against his shoulder.
"Ugh…" Darius rolled his eyes but patted the smaller witch on the head.
"Raine and Lilith are back!" Hooty announced, "hide the instruments if you want to surprise!"
Darius teleported the instruments away just as Lilith and Raine entered the house.
"Well now we have everything," Lilith said, "the freshest blister sprouts on the Boiling Isles!".
"And we bought more wine too!" Raine announced.
"I see the guests are early," Lilith eyed the two witches on the sofa, "just as well, I can find you both something to do in the kitchen!"
"I have my own stew I brought to finish. And, are you sure you want him in the kitchen?" Darius chuckled And Alador swatted him on the shoulder.
"Did you manage to burn water again, Blight?" Eda chuckled.
Alador gave her a flustered frown, "I will never live that down, will I? It's been months since! And It wasn't water, it was tea, I forgot about it…."
"And…"
"And the water evaporated, and the tea leaves caught fire…." Alador blushed, "You Know I get invested in my projects and forget about everything. But, ever since, I made myself one of those timers. Luz was actually the one who suggested it. It's helpful," he smiled, and Eda had a feeling that the timer helped him with time management in more Important areas of life than making tea.
"Well," Darius got up, "Since I wasn't in town five days ago, and before Eda accuses me of having no manners again," he approached Raine and pulled them into a hug, "happy birthday!"
"Thanks," they smiled.
"Also, the poor choice of wine is his fault," he pointed at Alador who approached Raine to give them birthday wishes.
"Oh shut up," Alador swatted him playfully, "happy birthday. I do hope you'll like the wine."
"Don't worry, I'm not as picky as certain people!"
"Ugh, none of you have taste," Darius rolled his eyes.
......
Ten minutes of friendly banter later, right as Lilith, Darius and Raine returned to the kitchen to finish the birthday meal, the space in the living room arch started to flicker, moving like heated air in the hottest summers, and it shifted into a doorway, opening into a simple, suburban living room.
Luz, Vee and the Blight kids walked in, and behind them, Camila was picking up boxes and bags, presumably filled with food.
"Luz!" King exclaimed and jumped into his sister's arms. Ever since the Day of Unity, if they were apart for any longer than twenty-four hours, he would greet her as if they were apart for weeks. It was one of those small things that was cute, but still a reminder of the time they spent apart after the DOU. One of the things that proved that, while they healed, scars remained.
"Hello, little buddy," Luz' greeted, even as she had to make a step back from the impact of King's hug. She held him close, ruffling the fur on his back. She did it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world, "Miss me?"
"Always," King said, and, he was smiling, "and you too guys!" he greeted Vee and the Blight siblings.
“Hello!” Vee offered a fist bump.
“Edric, give him the thing!” Emira nudged her brother.
“What thing?! King asked excitedly and jumped from Luz’s to Amity’s arms so he would be closer to the twins. “Hi, cupcake destroyer!”
“Hello to you too,” Amity feigned the sour tone in her voice.
“Where is the thing,” King made grabby hands at her, “Is it a cupcake?”
“Nope.”
“It’s a gift,” Edric pulled something from his pocket, “for the noble titan!” He hung a keychain on King’s horn. It was a small plush of a turtle. “You don’t have that one in your collection, do you?”
“Nope!” King took it off his horn. “It’s cute! But I thought it was Raine’s birthday?”
“Dad’s got that covered,” Emira said.
“Yup, and we saw this at the zoo and thought of you,” Emira explained to King.
“Awww, shucks guys, you didn’t have to!” King hugged the tiny turtle.
"Niños," Camila, her arms full, said from behind the kids who took up the entire portal doorway, "please, can you move so I can take these to the kitchen!"
"Oh, right, sorry mama!" Luz moved so Camila could pass. The woman went to the kitchen, muttering something in Spanish and simply nodding at Alador as a greeting, while Luz, Vee, and the Blights kept fussing around King.
“What? No hugs for me, kiddo?” Eda teased, approaching Luz.
Luz squeaked and rushed to Eda who wrapped her in a one-armed hug.
“Is your plan going well?” Luz quietly asked her, “Raine’s present?”
“Not bad,” Eda whispered back.
“They’ll love it!” she smiled. "We got something for them too, but that's also a surprise!" The two let go of each other as Amity placed King into Vee’s arms and, along with twins, went to Hug Alador. It was no longer a strange sight, seeing him be an attentive father, like it was at the beginning. He seemed very invested if a bit apprehensive, about something Edric was talking about. Probably the giraffes. She could not blame him. Eda saw a lot and was far from easily spooked but thinking about those long-necked beasts gave her chills.
“Is Collector awake?” Luz asked, “Got him a starfish toy.”
“Nah, he’s still napping.”
“I’m guessing he’ll be awake soon,” King shrugged, “He’s been sleeping less recently.”
“Cool, I want to give him this.”
“Oh, he’ll like it! His colours!” King took the small starfish plushie from Luz’s hand, studying it.
“Hey, Eda?” Vee asked
“Yes?”
“Um, are there any guests that I should strictly keep this form around here or…?” she wondered, “You know, considering that basilisks can still put some witches and demons on edge.”
Eda felt sympathy for the kid. She knew exactly what it was like to have a form that put people on edge. And, while Eda would revel in it now, there was a point in time when she didn’t.
“You kid,” she ruffled the girl’s hair, “can take whichever form you’re most comfortable in. Pretty much everyone who is coming is either family or close friends, and, if anyone has issues with you’re other form, will either have to get over it quickly or,” she momentarily transformed her left hand into a claw, “deal with my other form, got it?”
The basilisk girl was more like a niece to her, but it still made her one of her kids. And some schmaltzy part of Eda felt honoured that the Owl house was one of the few places in Boiling Isles where Vee felt completely comfortable. Maybe even the only place. Nobody, not a friend or a foe, was going to ruin that for Vee.
Vee shrugged, “I’m not uncomfortable like this, its’ me. I was just asking.”
“Point of comfort or not,” Eda smiled, “here you can be yourself.”
“Weirdos stick together?” Vee asked carefully, as if unsure if she is entitled to that line.
“Weirdos stick together, and there is a lot of weirdos here. Now, let’s close the portal so you can all go wish happy birthday to the birthday witch instead of just chatting with me,” she started the hand movement that would make the door close, but Vee stopped her.
"Wait! We still need to get all of those," Vee pointed to three giant grocery bags in the Noceda living room, "snacks. A lot of very spicy snacks. We raided that Thai store…"
"You'll spoil the birthday witch…"
"Duh! That's kinda the point!"
She, Luz, and King went to pick the bags up, and Eda closed the portal, handing Luz the key for safekeeping.
“Now come on!” Luz rushed them, “Mum made chocolate pie and habichuela con dulce, but I can’t wait to finish decorating the cake Lilith made! She did make a cake, right?”
“Yeah, she did,” Eda said, “I’ve been forbidden from taking a piece to try it, so I can’t say if it’s good, but she followed the instruction to a tee, so it must be!”
“Well of course she wouldn’t let you try a piece, it’s Raine’s birthday cake!"
“Yeah, and, as their partner, it’s my job to see if it’s good or if it will ruin their birthday!”
“Eda…” Luz rolled her eyes.
“The butter-scream is great, though,” King said.
“Yeah, he got his little claws all over the cake and Lilith freaked out because she had re-ice the cake three times,” Eda snorted.
“You’re being a little menace,” Luz said to King.
“I was hatched to be a little menace!” He shouted.
“Do you want to make up for being a menace by helping me decorate the cake?” Luz offered.
“Nope, I’ll just watch! And probably try to steal the butter-scream and decorations from time to time!” He jumped from her arms and rushed to the kitchen, “If you want to stop me, you gotta catch me first.”
“King…” Luz warned and shook her head, “He really is a little menace,” she said behind him and the entire gang slowly moved to the kitchen.
……
In the kitchen, Luz' and Vee placed the bags on the cupboard in the corner before Luz ran to the certain bard.
"Raine!" Luz pulled the witch into a tight hug, "happy birthday, again!"
"Hello, Luz," they hugged her back, "how are things in the human realm?"
"Good. Look at this," she pointed to her purple T-shirt. It was Good Witch Azura merchandise, with Azura being drawn as a stylized silhouette with silver and gold highlights.
"Is it a new one?" Raine wondered.
"Yes!"
"We won marching ones in a quiz right after the movie premiere," Amity joined her proudly, showing off her own T-shirt.
"Or rather, I won first place and Amity got second! I won over a Blight!" Luz smugly looked at her girlfriend. “We got the same T-shirt but I also got a mug, an exclusive copy of the latest book and a notebook. Amity, only got a pen!”
"Ha-ha! Taste the defeat, cupcake destroyed!"
Amity huffed, rolling her eyes, "You won on a technicality! I only misspelt one name! I could've had the title of number one Azura expert!"
"But you dooon't," Luz' poked her in the ribs, teasing her mercilessly.
"I am dating her though, and she is settling for the person who won the second place," Amity kissed her on the cheek, and Luz' gabbed her wrists.
"I'm never settling, hermosa! Don't say that even as a Joke! In the end, the important thing is, we totally crushed Tommy Jenkins! And got ourselves marching tees!" she pulled her into a side-hug, “Also, I’ll totally lend you my mug!”
“Awww!”
"Kid, Boots, cut it out," Eda teased, "between you and all the sweets we'll all get caries!"
"Pffft," Luz' snorted, "look who's talking!" She Said, making Darius, Lilith, and Camila, who talked next to the stove, laugh.
Eda threw an arm around Raine's shoulder, and asked "Are you calling us overly cutesy, kid?"
"You got it, Owl Lady!"
"Oh really?" Eda glared at her smugly, "did you hear that sweetiekins?” she turned her face to Raine, and exaggeratedly gazed into their eyes, “We are too darn-gosh adorable for Luz the Human!"
"Can't believe it, honeypie,” Raine bopped her on the nose, “though I can say you are the most perfect, lovely, darling, cutie-patootie!”
It was clear that they were just messing around, and that Eda was barely managing not to laugh, but Luz still shuddered. Lilith held her hands over her ears and, from his place at the stove, Darius shouted, "You two, while you're teasing the kids, you're making all of us suffer as well!"
"Well, Darius, to annoy you, we might just start talking like this whole the time, right, snookums?" Raine asked Eda
"You would use me to annoy goo-boy? I admire that very much, Rainestorm!” Eda kissed them on the lips and they reciprocated. “But please, don’t do that.”
“Nahy, you are my Calamity, not some honeypie!” Raine said.
"You are all, all," Lilith suddenly said, pointing to Luz, Amity, Eda, Raine, Darius and confused Alador who had just walked into the kitchen with the twins, "incorrigible!"
"Guilty as charged, Lily!" Eda grinned lopsidedly and placed another kiss to Raine's lips.
Lilith shook her head, "Incorrigible…Luz, Amity, if you two are done with this couples' competition, you can take over cake decorating! Everything is on the table!"
"Yay!" Amity pulled Luz' over, "come on batata!"
The two rushed to the table, where the BATS already sat with Vee. The twins soon joined the group.
Next to the stove, the adults gathered.
"Where is Hunter?" Camila asked Darius as she placed a pie into the oven while he was finishing the stew he brought. "Still with Dell?"
Darius nodded, "Yes. Dell travelled to the new palistorm Woods near the toes, with a few plant experts. Willow, was one of them. I think that Little Prince wanted to go there regardless, put od sheet interest in palismen but when he heard she would be there," he chuckled, "you can imagine."
"There was no stopping him," Camila said, smiling. "As long as he is having fun. I know how important learning about palismen is to him. And how much he likes spending time with Willow."
As soon as their lives started to achieve some semblance of normalcy after the fight with Belos and the Collector, Hunter's interest in palismen fully came through. At first shyly thanks to the mix of his general insecurity and grief over Flapjack's death. But, as time passed by, his inquisitiveness grew.
And, while he had support from everyone who surrounded him, by far the biggest contributor there was Dell. He spent much more time with his daughters, especially since he and Eda managed to properly reconnect, and, true to her promise, she slowly started to take over the family business. It was a slow process, as she had to re-learn how to carve palismen with her prosthetic, but she was determined. And Hunter made for a great company. Dell took him under his wing as soon as he met the boy, gently guiding him until Hunter was asking questions, his hunger for knowledge ever-present. He learned all about the craft but was also more than willing to lend a hand in re-planting palistorm groves.
In the end, one of the palismen Hunter carved bonded with him. The boy didn’t carve it with the intention for the critter to be his, but the palisman chose him. It was a small wolf, that immediately started following Hunter around. It was a bit of a rough patch at first, but it worked out in the end.
"Don't worry," Eda cut in, "I spoke to pops yesterday and, while I didn't reach Hunter because he went out for a flight with Willow, he says the kid is having fun."
"Really? It's so good to hear he is getting along well with the New palisman," Camila seemed surprised and delighted. "I'll take that as a good sign of moving forward."
"It is," Darius smiled, "And they make for a great team. Right before his trip with Dell he and his friends played for hours. I was giving lessons to Amity, so I got a glimpse of the game. He and willow the won against Viney and Augustus."
"Playing with Tweedledee?" Eda snickered, "He has a good incentive to move on then."
Camila shook her head and swatted at Eda with a dishcloth, "That is not the full reason, and you know it."
"I do, but I know it helps. That kid may think he is subtle, but he is not! Titan, it’s been a year…"
"Oh really? Look who’s talking!" Darius snorted, “Allegedly even Terra Snapdragon was cheering for you and Songbird to get back together!'
"I'll throw that right back at you, goo-boy! I never said I was subtle! There is not a subtle thing about me! But you and Blight thought you were sooo…unnoticeable…"
“You may have never said you were subtle, but you and Raine still tried to act like there is nothing going on there,” he pointed between the two witches.
"¡El burro hablando de orejas!" Camila rolled her eyes, “¡Ninguno de ustedes es sutil!"
"I don't think that was a compliment…" Darius frowned.
"No, I think she called us all non-subtle hypocrites…" Eda’s grasp on Spanish was still minimal, so she was mostly going from context and Camila’s tone.
“¡Porque estás!"
“What did she say?” Darius asked.
“That means because you are…” Ed said.
As the three kept talking and joking, the group of teens gathered around the table. Amity and Luz' took up half of it, with the cake and butter-scream icing and various decorative sprinkles.
"I guess that is the cue for me to leave?" Raine asked.
"Nah, no need,” Luz said, “None of this is a surprise anyways. So…how should I decorate the cake? Drawing you on it would probably be a bit weird…”
“Please…don’t do that…” Raine chuckled.
“Yeah, Lilith wrote a giant 46 on the cake anyways, so it has to be something small…” Luz tapped her chin with her right hand, as she grabbed King’s when he tried to get to the butterscream on the cake,
“Draw hell peppers,” Amber suggested, “Their favourite!”
“How about simple musical notes?” Derwin said his idea,.
“Those flowers Raine and Eda like!” Emira suggested.
“Yeah, snapdragons!” Edric said.
“Ok, ok, guys, calm down,” Raine chuckled, “don’t worry, whatever you draw, it’ll be perfect.”
“Yeah, nice sentiment and all, but I’m not doing this just to get it done,” Luz said. “Amity, what are you doing?”
The girl took a small box and a ball of what looked like abomination putty out of it, “Did you know there is such a thing as an edible abomination?”
“No…how did you even come to that idea?””
“Well, Vee and I were joking around one day,” she looked at the young basilisk.
“Ok, so you know how I can eat anything magical but I don’t like abomination because it’s just….blergh. Really yucky” Vee asked and everyone at the table nodded, “Well, I mentioned how I would probably like it more if you added cookie dough to it,” she shrugged. “Which caused Amity to have a crazy brainstorm…”
“I mean, abomination materials can vary, the only thing that’s required is to have the basic clay from the isles. Lilith found this ancient book from the pre-Belos era, and it mentioned that, since there was no arbitrary magical divide, people would make such abomination formula that would be edible. And…I tried some,” she took a small vial from her pocket, “It’s not perfect and doesn’t hold perfect shape but…maybe for figurines?”
“Wow,” Raine looked genuinely impressed, “You know, it’s a good thing we dismantled the coven system before your graduation because you would throw Darius out of position the moment you would be out of school!”
Amity blushed at the praise, “Thanks, but…I’m more about practice and experimentation than just raw talent,” she shrugged.
“Doesn’t matter,” Raine said, “So, my birthday cake is the test run for this abomination-decoration?”
“Yes…I mean, we don’t have to…”
“No, no consider me honoured!” Raine said.
“Amity that is perfect!” Luz said, “Ok, can you make tiny violins?”
“Luz, I just told you that it doesn’t hold perfect shape!” Amity sighed, “I mean maybe like…fake tiny cupcakes?”
“I want a fake tiny cupcake! I have to see if that is edible before you put it on my parent’s cake anyways!”
“Ok, here,” Amity made a tiny cupcake for him.
“Hmm…” he studied it before chucking it whole into his mouth, “A bit earthy…and cookie-like…and…spicy?”
“Honestly, I wish I could say that was planned but I’m not sure where the taste is coming from,” Amity shrugged.
“You pass the test! Now, more tiny cupcakes!”
“Easy, I only have a limited amount for the cake. So, I can make cupcakes or maybe…flowers? They won’t be perfect though…”
“Right…so…tiny snapdragons? They don’t have to be as perfect as violins?”
“Got it. And you can draw musical notes.”
“And hell peppers!” Amber said.
“I can’t believe you are all working on my cake,” Raine smiled. “And diluted my identity down to music, spicy food and loves Eda.”
“I mean, we’re not working,” Katya said, munching on a bag of Jalapeno crisps, “We’re just throwing ideas while devouring your stack of snacks. Also, that is basically the core of your identity!” she teased.
“Give me that, young lady,” Raine snatched the bag from her hand, “It’s my birthday after all!”
“Oh, can I try one?” Hooty asked.
“No!”
“But I and Lulu baked you a cake!”
“Fine, here,” Raine gave one to the demon.
“Can I have one?” King asked.
“You hate very spicy food…”
“Maybe I’ll like it this time!”
“No, the last time you tried to steal some of my snacks, you tried to accuse me of trying to kill you,” Raine sighed.
“I was joking,” King rolled his eyes, “Not my fault that some overzealous titan-followers at the restaurant took it seriously and tried to attack you…you know, being worshipped sucks!”
“I know,” Raine cringed, patting their son on the back, “Sorry, didn’t mean to remind you. But you’re still not getting that, you can have some nice, regular crisps instead!”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Edric cut in, “hold up! Are you telling me that some crazy-ass person tried to shank Raine because they take dinner banter too seriously?”
"Well, shank is probably a bit of an extreme way to put it..." Raine started to say.
“Yup!” King cut in, “And then, when I told them to stop, then they didn’t listen!”
“We had to stop that lady and her friends from straight-up jumping on Raine's face…” Amber sighed.
“It was a family dinner, last week,” Raine said, “Eda, Luz, King, Katya, Derwin, Amber, Camila and me. Collector was asleep and Hunter was on that trip with Dell.
“And I was with Masha at this really cool museum about how humans perceive the occult. Honestly, they get, like 99% of the things wrong…sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt!”
“Well, basically, everything went well..”
“Until I made that stupid joke…”
“As you said, yourself, it’s not your fault,” Vee rubbed King's back.
“Yeah, I accuse Ed of attempted homicide like, three times a week…” Emira said.
“And I accuse her of it four times a week! Granted, one of those is usually kinda warranted…”
“Basically,” Amber cut in, “It was while Eda and Camila were at the toilet. The three of us had to hold that crazy woman back, Raine and King were trying to explain things, and then angry Eda and Camila came and then the other group ran away screaming…”
“Well, I don’t think anyone here will cause troubles like that,” Amity said.
“Yeah, because you guys are all normal!” King said, “I mean, you’re each your own kind of a weirdo, but, like, the normal kind.”
“Another cupcake?” Amity offered.
“Thanks. I sometimes just wish things were normal again…” King said, “But…I got a whole bunch of friends now, a few cool siblings and a cool new parent so, I guess it works out!”
“Awww,” everyone cooed, and Raine reached to scratch their son’s head, handing him a bag of regular paprika chips.
“Ok, now, gang,” Luz said, “I’m starting to use the piping bag so, I need quiet now…this has to go well…”