'That's amazing!' Adalia replied, 'I'm so happy things are working out over there, they were so great to us when we visited, it really feels like they're allies now.'

'It'll be so nice to see Fran as well when this all settles down as well, it's so lovely that we found each other again,' Esme said.

'She's just the best, I hope she's doing OK. I only met her briefly but she was so kind, it felt like we'd been friends for years,' Adalia said.

'Well, perhaps we can offer Fran our services her in Bellicosus if she needs it,' Darcey suggested, 'we have jobs and cabins here should she find herself in that situation, she'd be very welcome.'

'She told me she wants to come back and visit soon, she said she loved everyone here and she felt so at home, but she needed to return to Maleficia to lend a hand,' Esme explained.

The girls were working on Darcey's makeup and preparing her for the day ahead. Darcey was sat on her stool looking over the plans for the day.

'Oh look, it's that time of the year again,' she said.

Adalia looked over her shoulder at the notes.

'Annual Competition time, how could I forget? I've been preparing for months, working on my moves, I'm so ready for this year. I'm not going to let you win this time, Esme,' she winked.

'Ahh, you put up a great competition, but I'm not sure I'll be competing this time around.'

'You have to, I mean it's only the biggest event of the year'.

'I just feel a bit weird about competing, considering what happened last time around, and I'm not sure if I'll even be allowed, considering I am a criminal now.'

'It'll be a matter to take up with my father, and of course the court, but potentially we'll be able to find a way around if you did want to take part, I think people are warming to you, and helping to save Maleficia really only helped your case.' Darcey chimed in.

'Yeah, you're right, we'll see'.

Back in the town plaza, Colin was out collecting some vegetables from the market. He was quietly humming along to himself, checking out everything on the tables. The smells of herbs and spices filled the air.

'Um, excuse me? Could you tell me what this is, please?' A young voice asked.

'Of course, that is a big beefy tomato, Farmer Adrian's speciality,' Colin replied.

'Thanks, I guess I'll be trying two of those then,' the young boy told Farmer Adrian with a smile.'

Colin watched the boy struggle a bit with the coins, but eventually manage to hand them over and walk away with his bag. He realised he didn't know who it was, and ran over to say hello.

'Sorry, hi,' he said.

The boy jumped,

'Ah! Sorry I didn't see you there, hi.' he responded.

'I just wanted to say hello, I don't recognise you, and I recognise everyone around here, I'm Colin.'

'Marco, and that would be because I only arrived last night. Private reasons.'

'Then I won't pry,' he looked down and saw a white stick in Marco's hand, 'I've never seen one of those sticks before, what's it for?'

'This is my cane, I'm visually impaired and need it to see, it's not a big deal.' 

'Well I think it's cool, makes sense why you were a bit surprised when I came up behind you, sorry about that.'

'No worries. Hey, would you mind telling me how to cook these tomatoes, like do you have a specific recipe or method?'

Colin knew in that moment that Marco would be needing a bit help around Bellicosus, so he invited Marco to his cabin to talk more.

'Thank you for helping me, you really didn't have to,' Marco said. He was chopping vegetables for the recipe Colin had decided to teach him.

'No problem! I actually think you're really fun, we could be good friends. And I know lots of people around our age, they're all great as well, so you'll hopefully be right at home here.'

'Well, I can't wait, and this stew is smelling amazing, I hope it tastes as good as it looks.'

There was a knock at the door.

'Only us,' Gabriel said as him and Theo came in, 'thought we'd just stop by and see how you are.'

'I'm good, I want you guys to meet Marco, he's new around here. Marco, o the left is Gabriel, he's a great friend, and on the right is Theo, he lives in a fancy house on the hill outside of town. Does it help if I describe to you like that or was it a bit patronising?' Colin said.

'Actually it helps, thank you. I'm just so flattered that you're making an effort to make me feel included,' Marco reached out his hand, 'hello to both of you, I have some difficulty with my sight so if I'm not looking directly at you, please don't think I'm rude.'

'It's absolutely no problem, Marco. You're so welcome here. I've never met someone like you before, though, so if I get it a bit wrong, just bear with me a bit,' Gabriel said.

'Likewise, you're one of us now, Marco,' Theo replied.

The boys sat around the fire, enjoying the stew that Colin and Marco had made earlier. Theo was discussing his decision not to marry and settle now, and to stand his ground with his parents. He said that things in the family would be changing, and hopefully for the better.

They asked Marco if he had a place to stay, which he didn't. Colin offered him some blankets and a pillow on the floor until he found somewhere, which he gracefully accepted.

'You know, my family has some live in jobs, Marco. If you need something, I'm sure we can help you out,' Theo suggested.

'Really? Thank you so much guys, you've been the most welcoming people I've ever met, I really don't know how I can repay you.'

'It's really nothing, mate, and you'd actually be helping us a lot more. So what sorts of things are you interested in?'

'Well I used to help my father run a stockbrokers in our old town, I was on the accounts and filing side of things.'

'That's amazing! Not only that you're a complete brainbox but also because I just think it's so admirable that you don't let things get in the way,' Gabriel said.

'It's actually not that tough, because I was filing, I knew where everything was, and I put tabs in the most important files so I knew what I needed and where it was when I ran my hand down the tops of the drawers. And with preparing accounts I found stationery that made it easier for me to read.'

'Well, that's settled, I'll discuss it with my parents but I think you're hired, Marco. You'll be a huge asset to us.'

Later that night, Gabriel had returned home to his cabin and was sat with a mug of tea, looking out the window. He heard the bell ring and got up to see who it was.

'Hi.'

It was Esme, looking just as beautiful as she always did. Gabriel looked at her and he just felt like he knew what she'd come to say. She was going to tell him that she wasn't interested in him and wanted to just leave it as it was.

'Can we talk?' She asked.

He invited her in.

'I feel like I know what this is about, Esme, and I get it.'

'Gabriel you have no idea how much I want to want to be with you, but it's not fair to you to lead you on like this.'

'It's alright, no one was lead on. What happened was a one time thing and it's not happening again. But we're staying friends, and that's absolutely fine.'

'I just don't know if I'm really feeling in a good place for a relationship right now, and you deserve someone good, Gabriel.'

'Thank you.'

They looked at each other and Esme just knew that now was the time to turn and leave, she'd said her piece and now she should go. But she just couldn't bring herself to do it, her legs froze into place. Gabriel moved forward to get the door for her and she turned around to leave.

She got to the door and looked up at him again to say good bye.

'Well, I guess I'll see you around then,' she said, glancing up at him.

'I guess you will,' Gabriel replied, leaning on the door frame and glancing back at her. Their eyes were locked. He smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. She took his other hand in hers in squeezed it tight.

'Do you want a cup of tea before you go?' Gabriel asked quietly, and he immediately kicked himself for asking such a stupid question, she'd just rejected him, of course she doesn't want a cup of tea.

'You know what? sure, since we parted on good terms, and we're friends, if you're sure?'

'I'm absolutely sure.'

She stepped back onto the doorstep to his cabin when it happened. She was kissing him, and once it started she just didn't want it to stop. Esme felt so bad, she pulled away.

'I'm so sorry, I just rejected you, and I said I didn't want anything.'

'Esme, it's fine. I know where we stand, but I still want to.'

Then he pulled her in and kissed her. It felt so wrong and yet so right at the same time, and once it started, they couldn't bring themselves to stop.

'How badly did you want that tea?' Gabriel asked.

'Not really, I don't drink tea.'

'Well that's fine then.'