The next morning, Ella woke up before Soren did. Soren remained within the clutches of peaceful sleep. Ella must have shifted back into human form in her sleep as she lay beside Soren, her gentle arms curled around her sleepy roommate's torso. She watched the thirteen year old’s belly’s  rise and fall in deep, even breaths.

They’re such a quiet sleeper that I didn’t even notice they were there all night! I hope I was able to keep Soren’s nightmares at bay.

The scent of that morning’s  breakfast wafted up from downstairs, giving Ella the cue to wake Soren up. Ella brushed the hair out of Soren’s eyes and tickled their eyelids with a light touch.

“Soren, are you awake?” Ella murmured. She opened the curtains of the side window, letting the sun in.

Soren stirred in their sleep for a moment then sat up when they felt the warmth of the sun on their face. “It’s morning already?”

Their voice was rough with sleep and they had bags under their eyes.

Ella nodded. “Yep! From the smell of it, breakfast is  almost ready.”

Soren leapt off the bed and Ella followed in suit.

Soren’s face took on a pensive look. “We’d better hurry. You know how it is around here.”

Ella walked over to the closet and selected her clothing for the day. “I’m a fast learner and you gave me the lay of the land. You might make a morning person out of me yet.”

Soren laughed, running a hand through their hair. “I wasn’t always a morning person and some days I still am not that kind of person. I was an underdog when it came to food in this house. It disappears so fast and it took me a long time to learn that lesson so I sometimes had to fend for myself.” 

Ella laughed as well before both fell silent as they got changed into their clothes for the day. Once dressed, they left their room and headed to the washroom. 

Soren splashed cold water on their face and Ella did the same. Feeling refreshed, the two of them headed downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table. Ailish was already seated and Jasper and Victor stood by the stove, keeping an eye on the food they were preparing.

Soren and Ella sat side by side waiting for breakfast to be ready. 

Soren leaned over to whisper in Ella’s ear. “I think I’m going to tell them today.”

Ella nodded to show she understood. She reached under the table and patted Soren’s knee then both returned to their original positions as if nothing had happened. Ailish glanced at them as if to ask what that was about but she didn't broach the subject as she knew not to pry.

Ailish and Soren’s parents finished what they were doing at the stove and joined everyone at the table

Jasper passed out bowls and spoons.“The oatmeal is ready. We’re just going to let it sit for a bit. It’s always better that way.”

There were nods of agreement from all who were present, including Ella who hadn’t had oatmeal in a long time.

Victor glanced around at the younger generation of people who were present at the table. “You girls are up early.”

Soren winced at this, Ella being the only one who knew where this was coming from. The rest of the group sat there, oblivious to Soren’s discomfort. Ella reached under the table again giving Soren’s hand a squeeze, making eye contact with them in a way that gave the message ‘You’ve got this, Soren.’

Soren nodded and swallowed hard, not looking any less worried.

Jasper stood up to check on the oatmeal. He tested it and pronounced it ready. He brought the saucepan to the table and set it down on top of an oven mitt in the center of the table. 

“Don’t get into it right away or you’ll burn your tongue,” he warned.

Ailish began serving everyone, sliding a bowl of oatmeal to each of them. “I think we all know the drill by this point. At least one of us has learned it the hard way.”

Laughter rippled over the table like water. Once all were served, silence fell and the meal began. The oatmeal tasted the same as Ella remembered from the last time she had it even though it was a long time ago: Lots of cinnamon and just the right amount of brown sugar.

Soren breaks the silence. “Da, Ailish, Dada?” They looked at Jasper, Ailish and Victor in turn. “There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Soren reached under the table for support. Ella gave them an encouraging smile and took the thirteen-year-old’s hand, giving it gentle squeezes.

You’ve got this Soren. You’re not alone. You never will be.

Soren nodded as if hearing Ella’s thoughts. They still appeared apprehensive. Everyone turned their attention to Soren.

Jasper set down his spoon. “Alright.”

“What’s up?” Victor prompted.

Ailish gave her sibling a kind look.“You can tell us anything.”

Ella gave Soren another encouraging smile then Soren began.

“There’s something that’s been going on with me for a while although I didn’t recognize it for what it was until more recently. Maybe a year or two ago I realized what it meant for me but I’ve always been this way. I’m not part of the gender binary. I am nonbinary.”

Ailish, Jasper and Victor nodded their acknowledgement so as not to interrupt.

“So the comment you made earlier really got to me, Dada, even though I know you meant no harm,” Soren continued. “Some people look at me and see a girl, others see a boy. I am neither.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Victor apologized. “I wasn’t thinking and you're right. I didn’t mean any harm.”

Jasper gave his younger child a warm smile. “It takes a lot to trust someone enough to tell them who you are. Thanks for extending that trust to us.”

Ailish reached across the table and tousled Soren’s hair. “Thanks for telling us. If there’s anything I can do or any of us can do to make you feel more comfortable, don’t hesitate to tell us.”

Soren nodded with a wry smile. “Please use neutral terms for me. Specifically they/them. I know there are other gender neutral pronouns out there but these ones are best for me.”

Ailish grinned. “Sounds good.”

Victor ran a hand through his hair. “Works for me.”

“I can’t promise we’ll be perfect,” Jasper informed. “It’ll take a while to get into the habit.”

“Correct us if we get them wrong,” Ella projected. “We want you to feel comfortable around us.”

Soren nodded, turning back to Jasper, Victor and Ailish.“I thought you guys would hate me for being so different from you.”

“You’re no different,” Jasper assured them. “You’re you. You’re unique. You’re special.”

Ailish turned her gaze to Soren, her eyes softening. “There is nothing wrong with being yourself. We could never hate you for that. All I want is for you to live your life as the wonderful you that you are and be happy.”

Victor shifted his gaze to Soren, overcome with emotion. “I’m sorry if we ever made you feel that you had to choose between one end of the gender binary or the other.”

Soren gave their father a watery smile. “You didn’t. It’s normal to feel insecure over coming out.”

“If normal even exists,” Ella sputtered, wiggling her eyebrows.

This got a laugh from Soren. 

Soren gave everyone a look of immense gratitude.“Thanks for being so awesome over this.” 

Everybody gave Soren a warm smile. When breakfast was finished, Jasper, Ailish Victor and Ella hugged Soren in turn. The dishes were washed and dried before everyone carried on with their day.

Ella and Ailish went into the garden in the backyard. Ella was certain that something was on Ailish's mind but didn't want to push it.

I should let her talk about it when she’s ready. It’s the respectful thing to do. When she’s ready, she’ll tell you. Be patient, Ella. Be patient.

Ella and Ailish walked throughout the garden and the backyard, taking in the scenery.

Ella looked up at the sky.“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” 

Ailish followed her gaze. “Yeah it is.” 

“You’re lucky you have such a scenic backyard,” Ella continued. “I wasn’t so lucky. My parents ruined the backyard of the house I was living at, at the time with their dark magic. They would practice it in their room but it always found a way of seeping into the backyard.”

“I’m sorry that happened,” Ailish comforted. “It’s probably for the best that you left. I hope you’ll tell me about it sometime. It doesn’t have to be now. Just know that when you’re ready to tell me, I will gladly lend you my ears.”

“I’m not going to let them make me their puppet,” Ella muttered, gasping soon after when she realized what she said.

She looked around the backyard to make sure no one else was in the backyard with them. Once she was confident that the coast was clear, she murmured ‘Cloverleaf.’

Ailish looked around and listened for signs of unwanted company. After a moment, she nodded.

“So I’m not the only one of us that remembered the password,” Ailish uttered, her voice low.

“How could I forget?” Ella whispered. “I could never forget you or anything we went through together.”

Ailish gave Ella a big hug then the two of them sat down together on the garden wall.

Ailish crossed one leg over the other. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Ella turned to face her friend, crossing her legs as well. “Ask away.”

A grim look passed over Ailish’s face. “I’ve been trying to master my powers for years but to no avail.”

Ella patted Ailish’s hand. “It takes time and practice.”

Ailish pulled out the book she’d been using all these years.“I’ve been doing that but my sources of learning haven’t been helpful.” 

Ella traced her finger on the book’s title, examining its cover. “Oh, that book’s terrible!” she laughed. “I used that until Aunt Mabel gave me this.”

She pulled out the book her Aunt Mabel gave her: Magic For the Kindhearted: A Guide to Mastery.

“This book made all the difference plus I trained and practiced with Aunt Mabel,” Ella prattled on. “The book’s not enough. You need a teacher as well.”

“I tried working with my parents but their methods were too complex for me,” Ailish stated.

“Then maybe you need a new teacher,” Ella volunteered. “One who knows you well and understands you.”

Ailish pondered this for a moment. Ella watched her companions ‘thinking face’ with silent laughter. Ailish’s face became wistful. Her gaze passed from Ella to Ella’s book on magic then back at Ella. “Would you teach me?” 

“Let me think about that,” Ella muttered. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just need time to think about it.”

She handed her book on magic to Ailish.

“Use this for now,” Ella reassured her. “It’ll get you started. It won’t be enough but it’s a good start.”

“Thanks,” Ailish called over her shoulder as Ella walked away from her, heading back inside.

Ella went to her and Soren’s shared room and flopped down on her bed. She so much wanted to be Ailish’s magic teacher but she felt exposed and vulnerable.

What if something goes wrong? I’ll be failing Ailish and myself too! If I work with her on magic, I’ll be even more exposed. She’ll be able to see all parts of me. There’s stuff about me that I can’t let Ailish or anyone see. It would be the end of me.

Ella pondered this for a while until she came to a decision: She will teach Ailish magic and train with her but she won’t do it alone. She’ll have to get Lucca and Andrew involved. Ella will have to guard herself  and her feelings closely. If anyone gets too close, she’ll put them in danger and she can’t let that happen.

Ella’s parents are too powerful. She can’t let them near those she cares about. Ella pondered things some more as she fell into a fitful sleep.