to the stars

“‘Morning,” Rohan said, smiling at his wife as he walked into the kitchen. Technically he had the day off today. He needed to go into the hospital for a few hours that afternoon - which to his family he said was work - but he was free outside of that. He kissed the top of his son and daughter’s heads and then moved to his wife, hand on the small of her back as he kissed her, “Do you want me to make breakfast?”

@caitsx​

“No offense, but I am hoping to have everything together and know what I’m doing well before thirty,” Cynthia replied, “But thanks and yeah, I was just gonna go to Madam Puddifoot’s for some. I hear they have some new flavours.”

“If they’ve started selling them, then it’s totally fine to put it up right?” Candice asked, laughing a little, “Back home, we wouldn’t put them up until after Thanksgiving but you guys don’t celebrate that here so it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh most definitely not,” Elena beamed back at her friend. Christmas often felt like a safe space, one that helped wash away the trials and tribulations that the entire year had put them all through. And people needed a safe space right now more than ever. “Would you like some help setting up? Nobody should ever have to decorate alone.”

“Well, I mean, they’ve already started at Hogwarts,” Gale replied, “And it is mid-November so it seems like a good time. Especially if you’re gonna put a lot of effort into it. In which case, you want them up for a longer time right?” As always, he was thinking too much into it. When did he not do that? But the stranger didn’t know.

“Absolutely not,” Ben replied, “I totally started decorating the shop already. Just some tinsel here and there and I’ll add more over the weeks but if shops are selling Christmas things, then we should be allowed to put a tree up.”

Griffin scoffed a little at the other, “Er– yes.” He was a firm believer that Christmas could not be celebrated until December. Only then did he go all out for the holiday. “Can’t you wait like two weeks for it to be the correct month?”

“Well, being someone else on my birthday wasn’t how I pictured my celebration.” Albus commented. “Let’s see if that’ll just curse my year.”

“I have never been so thankful for my body.” Kristoff grumbled out, having to check his reflection in anything shiny every now and then to ensure that he was in fact himself. “I did not enjoy being a gangly, teen, girl. I think it might have actually been the worst experience in my life and I have had some pretty bad experiences.”

It felt like all eyes were on her. She knew logically it wasn’t the case, but ever since the Gossip Witches had told everyone, it was the only thing she could think about. It wasn’t like it had been a secret, not like the other stories the witches had revealed. She had been voted Biggest Troublemaker for Merlin’s sake, but there was a big difference between people thinking she was big drinker, or a party girl, and knowing she was an addict. What were people going to be thinking? Her friends, her co-workers, her old professors? All the people who were going to be too afraid to invite her places, or tread on eggshells around her in case they pushed her over the edge and off the wagon. It would have just been easier, she thought to herself, to have done the dare. At least if she was drunk, she wouldn’t have to feel anything else.

She’d been so wrapped up in her own head, she hadn’t noticed the person standing in front of her, and frankly, had no idea how long they’d been there. “Sorry, did you say something?” Erin asked. “I… wasn’t listening.”

Cait was fortunate that she hadn’t had any dealings with the Gossip Witches. Yet. But every time something came out because of them, her heart would twinge with dread and fear that it would be her own secret revealed. She couldn’t imagine what those who did have their secrets revealed must be going through, and it seemed some of the secrets being revealed were affecting more than just the person mentioned. Like her own would if it were to get out. 

“So I guess I’m in my twenties now?” Cynthia said, laughing a little, “That’s a fun thought,” At this point, she’d been expecting to have started her job at the Ministry. Of course, life had gotten in the way a little but part of her was happy she was still at school. If she’s known about what he parents had done halfway through her internship, that would have completely thrown her off. Now she had a little more freedom. At least that’s what she thought now. She hadn’t spoken to them since just after Halloween and had been ignoring their letters since. She was prepared for them to come to the school to find her next but she didn’t care, “I want cake. Would you accompany the birthday girl for cake?”

“I’m terrified for when she starts to walk. If she’s anything like me she’ll be an adventurous little bugger,” she laughed. “Honestly I normally don’t think that ahead either but, now that I’ve got that in mind I’ve got to note it down before I forget,” she admitted with a chuckle of her own. “Ah I can only imagine. You’re going to be my real life manual– how does that sound? I’m definitely going to need you help,” Elena said, a light desperation in her tone. It would be comforting to know she could count on someone experienced. “What are you… wait huh?” Elena’s voice suddenly came out a lot deeper and Cait didn’t look like herself. She pulled out a pocket mirror to see a face she didn’t recognize, “What the… what the fuck?” she couldn’t help but let slip out, turning the mirror around so Cait could see her own reflection. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t wait,” she played along. “Oh no. Well, I guess you were trying to get into that Halloween spirit,” Elena mentioned. When Cait seemed to light up at the sight of the potion only to take it immediately, another laugh escaped Elena. “I’m glad I could be useful. You also may or may not have given me an idea of what to get you for Christmas. A bit of a cheap way out but it would be a useful gift, which is one of the most important qualities if I do say so.” She then followed up with a nod, “Oh Godric, of course. Keep it. You need it more than me right now,” she insisted with a light wave of her hands. “She’s great, she’s really great. As great as a baby as fresh out of the oven as she is can be. It’s a lot of work being a mother, nobody ever hands you an instruction manual or anything but– I think I’m managing okay?” Elena laughed a little sheepishly. “I guess you can judge me in a year, see if I’ve done okay. How’s that sound?” she added playfully.

“Lots of space and fields, at least where I was. I was out there studying dragons,” MK replied. 

“That sounds incredible, were you never worried about the dangers of being so close to dragons?” Cait asked, knowing she would constantly be thinking about being burnt or potentially eaten, but then she didn’t really know very much on the subject. 

“Terrible parents.” He teased, clearly not meaning it. “I think they should come and stay with their Uncle Jax for like… a week or two so that I can fuss over them and make them forget about that terrible experience. I think I can put up with two weeks of non-stop on repeat Frozen one and two.”

“I know, social services are going to be getting involved shortly.” Cait shook her head, an amused smile tugging at her lips. “Hey, if I ever take you up on that just remember that you’re the one who suggested it.” Lifting her hand to tuck her hair back behind her ear, only it wasn’t her hand. Quickly pulling a compact out of her purse, her brow furrowed in confusion as she saw it wasn’t her own face staring back at her, looking back at Jax hoping he would be able to tell her what had happened but he wasn’t himself either. “Uh what in Merlin’s name is going on?”