She was gone.

Matilda searched the entire museum; every hall, every room, every bathroom cubicle. No redheaded witch in sight.

Matilda's hand curled into an angry fist around her broom, nails digging into the wood.

How the hell could this have happened? How the hell did she miss the fact that Sebastian's e was a witch? Usually she could spot magic from a mile away. How has Winnie keep herself so well hidden?

Matilda was feeling hopeless as she was standing outside the museum steps looking at the people milling about on the sidewalk. She could fly up in her broom to get a better view, but Matilda knew that would be useless. Winnie was gone and most likely through a teleportation spell.

Had Winnie realized that Matilda was witch? Did she know that Matilda knew? What was going to happen now? Would Matilda still see Winnie at work?

A million questions buzzed around in her mind like flies that wouldn't leave you no matter how much you swapped at them.

Matilda didn't know where Winnie lived. She could ask Sebastian but—Sebastian!

Matilda ran back inside and asked around for her friends. One of the staff members was kind enough to take her to the security rooms where they were holding Sebastian, Jeff and Phil. Ursula and Eric were standing there with worried faces. Kat leaned against the wall, head resting back, eyes closed.

"What's happening?"

"Matilda where had you gone?" Ursula chided, "They've taken Bas and Phil to find out what happened. Mal's in there with them in case there are any charges."

"You would think they would be careful not to let crazy people in." Eric said and Kat audibly exhaled.

"Do you think they'll blacklist Bas?"

"I don't know. But I'm sure there'll be consequences. You can't just start a random fight in the fucking Museum of Cultural History!" Eric ran a hand through his hair. "Although Alton's in there so I'm sure he'll handle things."

"I hope Phil doesn't say anything stupid."

Matilda went over to Kat and bumped a friendly elbow. She looked at Matilda with glistening blue eyes.

"I'd say this was my fault but I don't think apologizing will change anything," Kat said.

"You didn't do anything."

"He's my ex-boyfriend."

"So? You don't control him." Someone else does.

Kat just chuckled morosely, "I embarrassed him tonight."

"It wasn't you though."

Kat still gulped guiltily.

"Relaaax," Matilda gave an encouraging smile, "It'll be fine."

The door opened and Bas was the first one to come out. A fresh shiner was forming around his eye and there was a small amount of dried blood on the corner of his mouth. Alton followed after him, shaking hands with the head of security. Matilda could see Mal in one corner of the room, standing by Phil and talking to another security officer. Jeff was sitting on a metal chair with his head in his lap.

"Bas! Is everything okay?" Ursula wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back.

"It's no big deal. Nobody's pressing any charges." He told Ursula and Eric, "Although Jeff's banned from ever entering the museum again." This he told Kat who simply nodded.

As soon as Ursula let him go he went for her, enveloping her in his arms.

"You okay?" He asked Kat quietly.

"I'm so sorry about—"

"Don't even. It's not your fault."

He buried his head in her neck and Matilda decided that she didn't need a close up of that view. She went over to Mal and Phil as they came out of the room.

Mal assured them that everything had been handled and all parties had agreed that involving law enforcement was not necessary for a simple fight over a girl.

The gang looked over to Kat and Bas, who by now were kissing very deeply.

"Ugh, it's like watching your parents make out." Phil said.

"You were so brave back there," Mal told him, giving him a sultry look. Phil smiled shyly. The two of them started walking out.

"You were brave too you know." Ursula told Eric. Eric smoothed a hand over his chest.

"I'm not as strong as Phil it seems."

"But you're smarter than all of em." Ursula linked her arm in his and they walked after Mal and Phil. Matilda looked at Kat and Bas, still kissing.

"Sebastian." Alton's curt voice jolted both Bas and Kat. "Thank you so much Russell. I'll be in touch." He kindly told the head of security. Giving Bas a loaded look, he walked out. Bas and Kat followed with Matilda being the last to leave. One of the security guards walked all of them out.

The ball was still in full swing. Music continued to flow through the halls. People milled about, gossiping about the fight. When the gang came out, people pointed and stared at them.

"Guys we're going to call it a night." Mal informed as Phil nodded.

"We're going to have to leave too." Bas said. His leaving was more of a requirement than a choice. Kat, of course would go with him.

Alton passed a look between Kat and Sebastian but said nothing. Matilda could see him biting his cheek.

They all said their goodbyes. Hugs were exchanged. Matilda felt strange when hugging Bas, the image of him burying his face in Kat's neck replayed over and over again.

She hugged Kat tightly. "You were the prettiest tonight." Matilda told her and Kat smiled graciously.

Kat smiled at Alton, "Thank you for your help tonight Alton. You didn't have to."

"Of course I did. Sebastian is my brother." He said stiffly. Kat gulped awkwardly.

"We'll talk." Was all Bas said before leaving with Kat.

Matilda's eyes wistfully followed him as he and Kat walked out. She turned and saw that Alton was looking in the same direction, looking at Kat the same way she had been looking at Bas.

Alton's head turned and he found himself looking at Matilda with a disapproving look on her face. His own expression soured.

"Miss Merryweather." He said as he walked away.

"Alton." She acknowledged with a snarky look.

Her using his preferred name was so unexpected, that he turned back for a second before carrying on.

*************

That night Matilda had gone around every inch of her apartment, casting all of the protection spells she could think of.

Another witch, Matilda thought gravely. The situation had just become very dangerous for a multitude of reasons.

For one thing, another witch meant mortal danger. She could cast a spell on Matilda and there would be no way for to reverse it. Curses could only be taken off by the witch that cast it or a true love's kiss and the latter option was not available to witches.

Most of the times the person casting the curse would be reluctant to take it off so if Matilda happened to be turned into a toad, she would remain in that state till Gwendolyn decided to change her back.

Her other reason for worry was Bas. He was vulnerable to Winnie's magic. Love spells did not exist so that was not an issue. But there were other things. Case in point; Kat's ex-boyfriend. The controlling spell on him was powerful and very well hidden. Even Matilda hadn't seen it till she had gotten a close look at his eyes. She might have missed it entirely had it not been for the fight.

No wonder he was acting so weird. And here I thought he was drunk.

Matilda updated her list of problems of getting Bas and Kat together with a big

7) SEBASTIAN'S EX IS A DAMN WITCH!!!

The discovery of Gwendolyn being a witch kept Matilda on edge all weekend. On Monday she returned to work with massive bags under her eyes and a steaming to-go cup of coffee in hand.

She pretended to act normal, but she found it hard to focus on anything other than finding Gwendolyn. Luckily for her, Cara seemed to be in a strange mood so she didn't notice Matilda avoiding her.

In fact, Matilda felt Cara was avoiding her. But she dismissed the thought.

During lunch Matilda went over to Winnie's desk under the pretense of seeing Bas who she knew would be out for lunch with Kat. Matilda had a million questions she wanted to ask the woman; Why was she going after a man with a soulmate? Why did she enchant Kat's boyfriend? How she had hidden her powers from Matilda for so long? Could she teach Matilda how to cast a controlling spell?

Matilda's thoughts were a jumble when she smiled at the redhead.

"Hey Gwendolyn," Matilda greeted her casually, hiding her nervous hands behind her back.

"Hello Matilda. Nice to see you again." Winnie smiled kindly, "Although I do insist you call me Winnie. Gwendolyn does not suit me at all."

"Really? You seem too elegant for Winnie."

"I do?" Winnie seemed flattered, "Well I do agree it is a little too homely for me. I used to go by Win, because I like to win all the time." She winked. "But then Bas started calling me Winnie and I suppose I just became used to it."

"You really like Sebastian huh?"

"I do." Then she quickly corrected, "I used to. I mean we're still friends in a way. Bas is hard to hate isn't he?"

"Yeah he is."

It was strange. Winnie spoke to her like it was perfectly normal, like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Could it be that the witch did not realize that her powers had been caught by Matilda. Did this mean she didn't know that Matilda was a witch too?

"So the Halloween ball, weird right? How your date just started fighting with Bas like that?"

"Ugh, I know!" Winnie rolled her eyes, "So humiliating! I was totally embarrassed. Please tell me Sebastian isn't mad at me." She pulled a guilty expression. Matilda blinked.

She had expected some witty, thinly veiled remark or at least some gloating. For a second she wondered whether Winnie was the witch that had enchanted Jeff.

But she quickly put that thought away. Because of course it was Winnie. There was no one else.

"No I don't think Bas is mad. I don't even think he remembered that Jeff came with you."

This appeared to be the wrong thing to say as an irritated expression appeared on her face but it quickly disappeared and was replaced with a cordial smile.

"Well that is lovely to hear. Sorry Matilda did you need anything? I really have to get back to this." She gestured to her screen.

Matilda let her get back to work and returned to her desk in a daze.

Winnie didn't know that Matilda knew about Jeff. She didn't know about Matilda's powers.

If she did she did a bloody good job at hiding it but that did not seem likely.

Matilda sagged in relief, finally being able to relax since Halloween. Cara gave her a weird look but Matilda ignored it. She was suddenly overcome with sleep but she had a busy week ahead of her so she had to make do with coffee.

She would have to keep an eye on Winnie and make sure she didn't do anything to Bas and Kat's friendship. On top of work, this added responsibility nagged at Matilda like a boring homework she did not want to complete.

She would do it of course. For Bas and for Kat. And now that Kat had met the gang, their relationship would progress further and Matilda could step back and watch their love bloom.

However, she hadn't realized it would come at the expense of her friendships.

Ever since Halloween Kat had been joining the groups weekly dinners. Every Friday Sebastian would bring her along. The first two weeks Matilda didn't mind but by the third she was getting annoyed.

Friday night dinners were a "gang" thing and Kat was not a member of their little gang. But everyone was treating her like she was. And now that the triple coupling was complete, Matilda was starting to feel like the seventh, unwanted wheel.

"Oh we went there last year!" Ursula squealed when Kat mentioned the avante garde and experimental restaurant Sebastian had taken her to, "The food was divine. And so creative!"

"Absolutely. I was totally mind blown." Kat said. Matilda just quietly sipped her juice.

"Ooh! You guys should join us for couples' water skiing!" Ursula suggested excitedly, "Mal can't do it with me anymore because of the baby but I would totally love to have you."

Mal and Ursula go water skiing without me? How come they never told me?

"Yeah!" Mal seemed to like the idea, "Ursula was bitching about how she's going to be all alone now. This is perfect Kat."

Kat looked at Sebastian for his take on the idea.

"I guess we're going water skiing then." He smiled lovingly at her. Matilda shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Mal had started showing now and she had even begun to gain a little weight. She had argued she wouldn't be eating much but Ursula had shut down that idea immediately.

"The hell you aren't. Who cares if you've gained weight? You're eating for two now. You can't skimp on food. Think about the baby."

Matilda noticed Phil give Mal a look to which Mal replied with raised brows that said 'What can I do?'

"Ooh. Order this. My cousin used to get this when she was pregnant. It's really good for the baby and has less calories." Kat suggested to Mal who smiled gratefully. Matilda took another sip.

"Tilly you're not having anything?"

"I'm not feeling too good. I think I'm coming down with something." She lied. She just didn't feel like explaining that she felt a weight in her stomach that did not leave any room for food.

"You can share with me," Mal offered to which Ursula raised her fork as if she would stab Mal.

On the surface, things appeared to be in their usual state. Every one joked and laughed, the wine flowed freely, food was delicious. Everyone was enjoying the night. Everyone except Matilda.

The gang formed a half circle with each other and Matilda's chair was a little removed, keeping her distanced from everyone. Matilda tried to move her chair closer to Ursula's but the movement caused a loud screech on the marble floor and it seemed awkward to continue doing it.

"So you all are coming over for Thanksgiving right?" Eric said. It was tradition to spend Thanksgiving at the Alderon estate.

"Of course." The gang all replied.

"Kat will be the guest of honor this year." Ursula said warmly and Kat took her hand. Matilda noted this gesture with envy.

"I can't believe our group is finally complete." Ursula said to Kat, "I was worried for Bas for the longest time but I'm so glad he's found you."

Matilda waited for someone to say something about her still being single but they didn't. They moved onto what Kat usually did for Thanksgiving.

"We're actually going to Kat's parents' place in the morning then we'll come over to you guys for dinner."

"What about Riley?" Matilda asked. The question came out accidentally; just a fleeting thought that she had not intended to say out loud. The group all turned to her, since it was the first time she had actually participated that night. Matilda found the attention uncomfortable.

"Alton's never around for holidays. He's always working. And Phee has her own plans." Sebastian answered.

"Cool." Now don't say anything else. Matilda felt stupid.

"Tell Phee to come over to dinner if she gets the chance. I haven't met her in ages." Eric said.

"Yeah. What has the kid been up to?" Phil asked.

"She's been studying fashion design. She makes all of her own dresses now."

"That sounds amazing. I really have to catch up with her." Ursula noted.

"I know right? It's been months since I last talked to her." Mal added.

Matilda found it strange that Mal and Ursula were in touch with Sebastian's mostly absent little sister. Stranger still was the fact that she did not know Mal and Ursula were in touch with Sebastian's mostly absent little sister.

She was learning a lot of things about her friends tonight.

That night she found it hard to sleep. She felt agitated, irritated, frustrated and all similar adjective. It was something that lurked beneath the surface, a heavy, weighed down like feeling. No matter what direction she turned, she felt a faraway throbbing pain in her chest.

What if the gang like Kat more than me? What if this is how we drift apart? Do I really need to get a boyfriend in order to fit in with them?

It was a truth universally acknowledged that a single person could not be friends with people in relationships. Because people in relationships had their whole life defined around this one factor while single people did not.

Matilda had thought that she would face this in her thirties, when Mal and presumably Ursula would be too busy managing their families and she would spend Friday dinners alone. But it seemed that that time had arrived, ahead of schedule. And it was killing her.

It was one thing to be told you could not have a soulmate; the responsibility fell on fate, not on her. But it was another thing that the relationships she was allowed to have ended up failing or withering away. Because then those people left because of her, not because of fate.

Matilda knew these thoughts were simply overreactions. She knew the logical explanation was far less depressing. But she could not help it. Her friends had been her rock and now it appeared that Kat would get them, along with Sebastian.

Matilda was jolted awake and was surprised that it was morning. She check the clock; only two hours' worth of sleep.

It was fine, it was the weekend. She could sleep in.

Only she got a call just as she had closed all of the curtains and had found a comfortable position on the bed.

"Matilda! You're still sleeping? It's midday."

"It's Saturday Cara."

"Fine, fine. Come out with me tonight. I want you to meet my new boyfriend."

"What do you mean new boyfriend?"

"Jim. From Captain Flint's. Remember we had that..." Cara cleared her throat.

"You called him up?"

"I may have run into him at Halloween and we may have hooked up again."

"Cara!"

"I know!" Cara apologized, "I can't help it. He's just... ugh you have to meet him."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend and I want your opinion on things."

This was news to Matilda. She had always taken Cara as a coworker that she got along with. She didn't think Cara saw her as more than that. Matilda was touched.

"You were right about Calvin," Cara explained, "I just wanted to get your advice for Jim."

"Okay fine." She agreed reluctantly.

*************

Fairy Godmothers saw soulmates in a very particular way. When soulmates were together, they would get this glow between them. Usually the glow would show itself every time they looked into each other's eyes or felt a swell of love for the other person.

Sometimes, the glow was there even when the other person was not there; but that was something Matilda hoped never to see.

A glow, without the presence of the soulmate, meant that the other person had passed away.

This is what she had seen when Jim Flint, bartender and owner of Captain Flint's showed Matilda a picture of his childhood friend.

Cara had taken Matilda to the bar to meet Jim. He had greeted them very courteously and given them a special booth in the back.

"Everything's on the house so feel free to order anything you'd like."

Since Matilda did not drink and it was a little before happy hour, they settled on eating fries and onion rings (the latter only for Matilda since Cara planned to "kiss Jim's brains out" later on).

Matilda insisted Cara order something else to eat. She looked like she had lost weight recently. There were bags under her eyes.

Cara wasn't her usual, chirpy self either. She didn't seem as fraught as she had previously but her usual frenetic energy seemed more calm and stable. Matilda wondered whether this was a good thing.

On the one hand, manic pixie dream girl energy only seems appealing in fiction. In real life it was draining so to have her seem calm and mature felt like an improvement. On the other hand... it saddened Matilda that Calvin had affected Cara to the point where her fundamental being had changed.

It had saddened her further when she noticed the absence of a glow between Cara and Jim.

Jim appeared to be a very nice guy. He wasn't as elegantly put together and well groomed as a certain blonde gentleman that Matilda certainly was not thinking about. But he was friendly, open, funny and most importantly, kind.

He not only pulled out the chair for Cara but did so for Matilda as well. Every courtesy he gave to his girlfriend—asking her how she was, getting her extra napkins, paying attention to her—was also extended to Matilda, albeit in a less romantic way. It was a small gesture but it showed that he was the kind of guy who treated all women well, not just his girlfriend.

"So how do you like owning a bar?" Matilda was trying to be the responsible friend but she didn't know what a friend was supposed to ask in this situation. Was she supposed to grill him about his work or threaten him not to hurt Cara?

Jim shrugged, "It's fun. You get to meet all sorts of people. And the money's good."

"Why the pirate theme?"

"Oh, it's a childhood thing. Me and my best friend Gertie used to run around pretending to be pirates as kids." Jim produced a picture from his wallet. Worn and with a fold line in the middle where a younger version of himself stood with a boy on the right and a girl on the left.

"I have two brothers. Gertie was one of us when we were kids. She was like the fourth brother we never wanted but got anyway." He said looking wistfully at the picture before putting it back. "I was really attached to her."

"Isn't that sweet?" Cara asked Matilda. Jim squeezed her hand.

Matilda gripped the table. Jim Flint was glowing.

"Gertie died of leukemia when we were seven. I had promised her I would become a pirate when we grew up. I guess I was trying to fulfill that in some way."

"I'm sorry for your loss Jim." Matilda's voice croaked.

Jim shrugged, "It was a long time ago. I still like to keep her memory you know. Keep her alive in some way."

Cara linked her arm in Jim's casually. Matilda got a sinking feeling in her chest. She was sad for Jim but her loyalties were with Cara, and this did not bode well for her.

They chatted some more, making small talk about work and weekends spent sleeping—or not in Matilda's case. Jim talked about his brothers, about his family life. Cara talked about her sisters. Matilda had nothing much to add.

"Yeah my mom was... my everything. I wasn't really that close to dad... don't have any siblings." She shrugged and Jim, sensing she didn't want to talk about herself, graciously changed the subject to managing bars.

"You have no idea about the kind of people you meet. Weird, not bad always but definitely weird." As he talked about his eccentric customers, Cara gazed at him; not looked, not leered but gazed.

Matilda would have too if she had been with Jim. The man was perfect.

But he wasn't perfect for Cara.

"So? What did you think?" Cara asked her as they were walking towards the subway. Jim had stayed behind since he had to work.

"Jim's a wonderful guy."

"I know."

"Cara..."

"I know what you're going to say."

"No, you don't."

"He's not a rebound. I actually like him. And it may be rushed but this is not a mistake."

"Cara you're not thinking straight. I mean look at you. You're clearly not eating properly, you're obviously depressed."

"I'm not depressed."

"And you're hooking up with strangers."

"Jim's not a stranger."

"You've only met him."

"It's been three weeks actually."

"And how long since Calvin broke up with you?"

"That's not the point."

"Look. It's not you I'm worried about. It's him."

"Um, aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Cara said, a little offended. She had every right to be. But Matilda didn't know how to tell her that someday she would find someone who would take her away from Jim, but he would never find anyone like that. Not anymore.

"I am! I am totally on your side I just... do you really think he's the one for you?"

"Well I don't know about him being "the one" Matilda." She made air quotes, "We're only just getting to know each other. But he's certainly amazing and I want to find out whether he could be the one."

"But what if he isn't? I mean did you feel... I don't know, the connection?"

"The connection?" Cara raised her brow skeptically.

"You know like..." Matilda tried to grasp the right words. Magic books had given many descriptions about what true love felt like, but for someone who had never experienced it, it was hard to explain. "Like he was your one true love."

Cara snorted through a laugh, "Are we twelve? One true love? Matilda, things like that don't exist." The irony that Cara was saying this to a fairy godmother was not lost on Matilda.

"What if they do? Wouldn't you want to be with someone you're meant to be with?"

"That's not how things work Tilly. Life isn't about destiny or fate or whatever. Life is all about choices. So are relationships. You choose who you end up with and right now I'm choosing Jim."

Matilda didn't say anything so Cara continued. "I'm actually shocked that you're telling me this. You're the last person I thought would be so sentimental about love."

"Why? I can be sentimental." Matilda said defensively.

"You stomped on the roses Carter Bailey gave you for Valentines and threw them in the trash. In front of everyone."

"So what? I hate flowers and Valentines is a propaganda by corporations to get us to consume unnecessary products. Plus, I told Carter I wasn't interested."

"Calvin said that he found Carter crying in the janitor's closet."

Matilda cringed, "I see your point." After a pause she continued, "Do you really think Jim is good for you right now?"

Cara stopped walking, "God, what is up with you?"

"Nothing! I just... I just think you should wait Cara, before you jump into another relationship." Matilda pulled an apologetic face in hopes it would convey her sincerity. It didn't.

Cara glared at her, her big eyes even bigger now, brows furrowed furiously, lips shriveled up as if she had sucked on a lemon. Cara had never once directed her infamous anger at Matilda. It disconcerted the witch.

"Well who the hell asked for your opinion." Cara huffed and started walking ahead of Matilda.

"You did!" Matilda called after her.

"Well I made a mistake!" Cara shouted without turning. Matilda stopped following her.