It had taken three days for anyone to get back to Matilda. The first to call her up had been Ursula. She caught Matilda up on all she had missed since Thanksgiving. Then Mal had called to rant about Phil's mother and to invite Matilda to a party at Sebastian's place for New Year's. The gang had decided not to go to the ceremony and parade in City Center and instead had opted for a more quiet gathering.

Sebastian hadn't called. Matilda reasoned that he was busy getting things ready but even she didn't believe that.

He doesn't care. A small voice told her.

I don't care if he doesn't. Matilda told the voice.

Liar.

The party was in two days. Matilda decided she was going to dress up this time, simply to lift her spirits. She took out the giant roll of magical fabric that she could fashion into any dress she liked and began cutting out pieces of what would become her dress.

Magical dresses were not made like normal ones. The cut had to be different, larger since the fabric would rework itself according to the wearer's body and at strange angles since it had to be aligned with the runes drawn on it. Some of Matilda's suit's didn't even require actual sewing. She just draped the dull, grey fabric over herself like a poncho and everything would cinch itself up in place, changing its fabric and color according to the spell.

"Mom should have taught me medicine, instead of dress making." Because of course her mother taught her dress making. Every fairy godmother needed to learn that more than how to save herself if an evil witch cursed her.

The thought of Gwendolyn reminded Matilda of the notepad she kept lying around her bedside table; yellow colored, with pages loosening from the binding. It was mostly empty, except for the list written in ballpoint.

PROBLEMS:

1. They don't know each other that well.

2. Kat's friend Jules hates Sebastian.

3. Sebastian doesn't want a serious relationship.

4. Riley Alton Spencer thinks I'm dating Sebastian.

5. Riley Alton Spencer is an asshole.

SOLUTION:

1. Get Bas and Kat to spend time together (make them run in to each other).

2. Give Bas a little "sign" from fate.

3. Get him to clear things up with Kat's friend Jules.

Matilda figured she could cross of the first, fourth and fifth (although for the fifth she felt the statement still held true). Matilda had expected Kat's friend Jules to become a problem but she hadn't seen any signs of issues from the woman. By all accounts, she seemed fine with her friend dating her ex, strange as it seemed. Matilda crossed off the second point also.

For the third, she felt it was only a matter of time. Sebastian may have been commitment phobic before, but surely the power of love would change that? Or would she still need to intervene?

After what happened at Thanksgiving, Matilda wasn't sure she wanted to intervene anymore. She wasn't sure she was fit for the job. And after seeing what was happening with Mal and Phil, she wasn't too sure about true love altogether.

Deciding to stay out of things for at least a while, Matilda ripped out her list of problems, crumpled it up and threw it in the bin. It missed the opening and fell on the floor. Matilda just looked at the paper and sighed, she would get to it later. She still had to finish the dress.

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

"Matilda!" Ursula greeted her with her jaw dangling in shock.

Matilda winced, "Does it look bad?"

"Bad? Till... you look amazing!"

Matilda sighed and chuckled in relief. The gold sequined dress was not her usual style. With a high neck, long, billowy sleeves and sleek silhouette that reached her knees; Matilda looked like a regular girl in her twenties, not the goth princess who hadn't let go of her teenage angst. She had even let her hair down in a simple, straight style.

Ursula had greeted her at the door to Sebastian's apartment. The gang always arrived earlier than the guests to help Sebastian set everything up. Behind her, Matilda could see Eric and Phil setting up the decorations on the curtain rod. Mal came up from the kitchen.

"What's all the—my God, Tilda! You look so chic!" Mal said.

Matilda blushed. It really wasn't a big deal. And she hadn't changed that much. But it did hit her that her friends had never complimented her style like this before. Usually they always complained about her affinity for the dark and witchy. Getting this kind of attention was a new and uncomfortable experience for the witch.

She felt unable to make eye contact so she looked at her feet instead, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Well let the poor girl in." Sebastian came from his room, carrying a box of his traditional new year's decorations. Matilda noticed that he didn't say anything about her glow up. She felt a little disappointed.

She put the bottles of wine she had brought on Sebastian's counter and looked around. The guys had already done most of the work so she went with Mal to help set up the snacks.

"Kat's not here?" She asked Mal as they carried the snacks over to the table.

"She's out to get more stuff. Left just before you came over."

Matilda nodded and tried not to stare at Sebastian. Matilda didn't know whether it was the fact that he was now unavailable or something else but he looked extra handsome today. He usually wore a dress shirt and suit pants to occasions like these but today his hair seemed to be styled more glamorously, his hands seemed more manicured, his shirt brand new. He even had a tie on instead of letting his collar button be casually open like it usually was.

Then Matilda realized it wasn't just her thinking Sebastian looked different, he actually was different.

"What's the occasion?" Matilda had asked casually, but all three of the guys looked up from their work like guilty criminals.

"What do you mean?" Eric, who was always quick on his feet, pretended to know nothing.

"Bas is all dressed up, he's even wearing a tie."

"So? It's a party," Sebastian tried to be casual too but Matilda knew him to well to not see the slight twitch in his eye or the tiny gulp he took.

"But you never dress up for a party."

Now the girls were curious too. Ursula came to stand by Matilda.

"You know what?" Ursula said. "Till's right. Bas is dressed up more than usual."

Mal came now, standing on Matilda's other side, the three scrutinizing the men under their gaze.

Sebastian caved with a groan, "Alright, alright." He reached for something in his pocket. "Here." He threw a small, black box at Matilda which she caught. The three girls watched as Matilda opened the jewelry box to reveal a very ornate diamond ring.

Mal and Ursula gasped in unison, Matilda just stared with her mouth open.

"Bas! I can't believe this!" Ursula shrieked in joy.

"Sebastian Spencer! I am so proud of you!" Mal wrapped him in a hug (as much as her belly would allow).

Sebastian's face flushed as he chuckled. Ursula joined the hug. Matilda closed the box with a click.

"I'm so shocked!" Ursula said.

"I have so many questions!"

"How?... When?... Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Sebastian asked the women. They both released their grip on him.

"I mean you hate commitment." Mal said straightforwardly.

"And you never get serious." Ursula added.

Sebastian looked down, "Well... I thought it was time I changed."

Both women shrieked like teenagers, clasping each other's hand.

"I want details." Ursula said.

"Yes! But not right now. Kat's gonna get back any minute."

"Are you going to do it tonight?"

"How did you plan all of this."

"Well..." Sebastian said carefully, "The guys kinda helped me set up everything."

Both Mal's and Ursula's faces dropped. They turned to their respective partners with a dangerously serene attitude. Ursula was the first to speak.

"Eric Alderon." Ursula said calmly.

"Ursula." Eric gulped.

"You bastard! You knew!" Ursula moved to punch her man, her man moved to dodge her small, thick fist.

"Bas made me promise!" He pointed at Sebastian.

"You knew too?" Mal said to Phil quietly.

"So now I have to tell you about everything that goes on in Sebastian's life too?" Phil snapped back. No one but Matilda overheard this.

"Let's not fight right now, okay?" Mal whispered.

"Sebastian! Do something!" Eric called. Ursula had managed to corner Eric by the refrigerator. Sebastian walked over and picked Ursula up by her waist. She stopped punching and simply made a threatening face to Eric as Sebastian hauled her away from him.

"Eric Alderon, how dare you keep secrets from me." She said. Eric laughed.

"I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you. Promise." He winked.

Sebastian let Ursula go. Ursula turned to him, straightening her dress. "I'm letting you off the hook just this once." She told him. "Because this is a special occasion."

" Guys, I think we broke Matilda." Phil commented when he saw that she was still frozen in place. Sebastian took the box from her hands and Mal waved a hand in front of her eyes. She showed no response. Mal laughed.

"I think Phil's right."

"Dude..." Matilda finally responded. "You're fucking proposing..." She said in a daze. The gang looked at each other. Was she going to cry? Was she heartbroken? Were they right about her and Sebastian.

No.

Internally, Matilda had broken. Not in a depressed sort of way, that was for later. Right now she was ecstatic. Her efforts had paid off. Sebastian Spencer would get his Happily Ever After™.

"Dude..." She said again, then shrieking in a girly manner voice that had never before been heard from Matilda Merryweather. "I can't believe this!" She jumped up and down. Unlike when Ursula or Mal shrieked, this was a strange sight for the boys. They huddled close, terrified.

"She's having a stroke." Eric said with wide fearful eyes. Matilda punched him, harder than Ursula could have ever managed. He yelped.

"Sebastian! I am so fucking happy for you!" She said and hugged him so tight her found it hard to breathe.

"Thanks, Till." Sebastian squeaked.

"I mean this is monumental." Matilda said. "I never thought you would actually commit to anyone."

"Yeah, Bas. This is very unexpected." Mal agreed.

"But totally amazing. We are all with you in this." Matilda said energetically. "Whatever you need." She grinned the widest grin the gang had ever seen on her.

"T-Thanks, Till." Sebastian said, overwhelmed by her response.

"Oh, you better take this." She gave him his box back. He tucked it away safely in his pocket.

"Oh I can't believe this is happening." Matilda touched her cheeks.

"We have to act normal. Right now we all look like we've won the lottery or something." Mal said, all business-like. "Matilda stop making that stupid face."

"I can't help it. I'm so happy!"

"Well stop it. I need you gloomy like you always are."

"I'm not gloomy."

Mal spoke over her. "Ursula, go put some powder on your face, you're blushing like you're the one being proposed to."

"Aye, aye." Ursula went into the powder room.

"Eric. Oh who am I kidding, you can probably handle yourself better than any of us can."

"You know you get all gung-ho every time you're nervous." Eric pointed out. Phil chuckled.

"I can punch harder than Matilda, Eric."

"Sorry."

"Sebastian." Mal turned to the nervous man who looked a little lost. She put both her hands on his shoulders. "Relax. She'll say yes. I know it." Mal kissed him on his forehead like a mother sending her son off to war.

"Thanks, Mal." Sebastian said. Trying not to think of his own mother. Mal could read his feelings on his face.

"Did you tell Alton?"

"Pfft, hell no."

"Ophelia?"

"Of course."

"She coming?"

"Yeah, later."

"Good. We're all here you know. Your family's all here." She rubbed his arms. Eric and Phil came up from each side and put his arms around him. They all stood that way in silence for just a moment. And that moment was everything for Sebastian.

Matilda watched them, unnoticed. A small, hot tear escaped her eyes.

Not now. She told herself. Later. You can do whatever you want later.

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

Like every New Year's eve party, Sebastian had invited too many people to his apartment. And it wasn't just strangers, these were all his friends, people he was close to. Matilda felt drained simply by imagining the sheer amount of energy required to maintain so many friendships.

It also felt strange to meet people who had known Sebastian since childhood. Matilda didn't even have one person from back in the day that she kept in touch with regularly enough. With the party in full swing, Matilda found herself circling the room with people coming up to her to introduce themselves. Pretty soon, Matilda found herself repeating the same conversation with every new person she met.

"Oh hi! You're part of Sebastian's gang, right? He talks so much about you guys! Are you Ursula or Mal?"

"I'm Matilda."

Their smile would falter just a little, "Oh, sorry. Thought you were one of—never mind. So how do you know Sebastian?"

"I am one of the gang." Matilda explained.

"Really? I thought it was just the Montfort and Alderon couples. Oh, no wait. I'm so sorry. Are you Sebastian's girlfriend?"

"No. That's Kat. She's over there."

"Oh that's her? Well I must go and say hello."

After quite literally, the thirtieth repetition of the same conversation, Matilda decided to take a breather in Sebastian's balcony. The music and the chatter was muffled outside. Cold December wind blew in Matilda's face, making it comfortingly numb. The balcony was not as roomy as Alton's, nor did it have that gorgeous view and—No, no. Why the hell am I thinking of that rude man right now?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Someone came to stand beside her.

"And of course you would be here!" Matilda groaned. She already knew before turning, that the strong, expensive smell could only belong to a certain redhead.

"Why? Why, Gwendolyn? Just why?"

"I only asked because you were frowning."

"Not that. Why are you here? Can't you just turn off for one occasion?"

"Goodness, aren't you happy to see me." Winnie said dryly.

"Excuse me for not wanting to deal with you tonight."

"I came because I was invited." Gwendolyn said irritably. "I don't always need magic to get into parties, you know."

"You should have rejected the invitation."

"And waste a perfectly good opportunity to win back Sebastian?"

"You can't win people, Gwendolyn. This is not a competition."

"Everything's a competition, Matilda."

"Ugh. I am not having this conversation with you." Matilda started to leave but stopped and turned. "What kind of spell have you casted in there?"

"None." A pause. "Yet."

Matilda had set up new protective runes around Sebastian's apartment while they had been setting everything up. She didn't know whether Gwendolyn could see them or not but was grateful that she had thought ahead.

"I don't suppose asking you to not use magic tonight would be useless."

"I don't know. Try asking nicely."

Matilda winced, "Sorry. I think that cause me actual pain."

Gwendolyn laughed, "I think it would be painful to see a beseeching expression on you. I don't think your face can bend that way."

"Touché." Matilda couldn't help but smile as she went back inside.

It was fifteen minutes to midnight and everyone was busy either dancing, getting wasted or both. Sebastian's television was on and tuned to the celebrations going on at Central .

Sebastian was in one corner, making out with Kat. Matilda noticed Kat's friend Jules watching them with a disapproving look on her face. Matilda waited for her to look away but it became clear that the woman had no intention of giving the couple their privacy.

Now, Matilda Merryweather may not drink any alcohol, but she sure knew how to act drunk. She picked up a nearly empty red cup, rubbed some of the leftover beer on her neck and sauntered over to where Jules stood, draping her arm around the woman lazily.

"Hey! I know you right?" Matilda said in slurred speech. "Julie? Judy?"

"Jules." The woman removed Matilda's arm from around her. "And no, you don't know me." She walked off, leaving Matilda pouting but at least Kat and Sebastian didn't have an audience now. Matilda was miffed that Sebastian was so openly hooking up with Kat without any regard that it might get filmed. The gang had a code between them not to cross that line but the others might not be so loyal.

Not wanting to care, Matilda tried to find Ursula and Mal from among the writhing bodies. Ursula and Eric off to one corner laughing with another couple. Matilda guessed Mal would be holed up in the bathroom since she couldn't really party with a baby on the way.

Phil had no issues with this as he danced with a couple of the guys like a frat boy who believed the world was going to end tonight. Matilda ignored him and made her way to the powder room.

"I knew you'd be here." She told Mal who was sitting on the toilet with the seat closed. Matilda closed the door and instantly the sound drowned out to a faraway thrum.

"I thought you were another couple looking for a place to hook up." Mal put away the magazine she had been reading.

"Nope. Just me."

"You should be out there, making out with some stranger. Getting drunk."

"Can't drink."

"Well just the first part then." Mal smiled.

"Don't like strangers."

"Ugh! Tilda, do you realize how lucky you are? I would kill to be out there, partying with everyone else." Mal said wistfully. Then suddenly looked down, sadly. "I can't believe I just said I would rather party than have this kid."

"But you didn't say that."

Mal gave her a look, "But I did though."

Matilda sat on the floor opposite Mal. "It's okay if you did. You're allowed not to like your baby."

Mal sighed, "It's not true you know. Everything they say about motherhood being this wonderful gift. It's a fucking nightmare. I'm in pain, all the time. If it's not my back it's my foot or something else. I get these weird cravings and mood swings. I don't even recognize who I am anymore." She clutched her belly. "This body doesn't feel like mine. And this kid... I don't feel that magical motherhood. I don't feel..."

Mal suddenly burst into tears, making Matilda panic. "Oh no. Mal... it's okay. You don't have to cry. Please don't cry. It'll be okay." Matilda said desperately.

"It won't! It won't!" Mal wailed. "I'm a terrible mother."

"No you're not."

"What do you know?" Mal said bitterly. She was right. What did Matilda know?

"You know my mom... didn't want me either." Mal's wailing calmed a little.

"She say that to you?" Mal sniffled.

"Not to me... I'd hear her talking to her friends. She never really wanted me. She only had me because she thought it would make my dad love her." Matilda had never told anyone about this. She didn't know why she was telling it now.

Mal looked at her intently. "Tilly I'm sorry." She squeezed Matilda's hand.

"No, no. It's not a bad thing. The thing is, she hated me when I was a kid. I was so difficult to raise and... she had no experience in how to deal with me... I never did anything she wanted me to, never acted the right way or chose the right path. I really tested her you know? But then later, when I grew up. And when... we got to know each other, as people, we... became best friends. She is-was the bestest friend I ever had. She was the only one who really knew me and I... I think I was the only one who ever really knew her too."

Matilda put her other hand over Mal's.

"So it's okay if you don't like your kid now. You don't really know her that well yet. But over time, when you'll spend time with her and when she'll spend time with you. You guys will bond and... maybe you'll even discover your motherhood."

Mal wiped her cheek. "What if I don't like my kid? What if I don't discover motherhood?"

Matilda shrugged. "Then you don't. That's that. But I doubt you'll totally hate her. I mean she does have your genes."

"Ugh. That means she'll be good at arguing."

The women laughed.

"Yeah, that will be a problem." Matilda said lightheartedly.

"Can you imagine her, as a teen?" Mal chuckled.

"Put her in the model UN or some debate club."

The music outside stopped and the muffled sound of a single person speaking came through. Matilda and Mal looked at each other.

"I think Bas is proposing." Mal said.

Quickly, Matilda helped Mal up and the women came out of the powder room. Mal was correct. There was a circle cleared in the middle of the room where Sebastian stood with a bouquet of roses in hand in front of a bewildered Kat. The television behind the couple was muted and showed a minute to the countdown.

Sebastian was saying how much Kat meant to him and was talking about how many ways she had changed him. Matilda wasn't really listening. The rising red flare of a raging witch standing in the balcony door had her preoccupied.

Three things happened at once.

Matilda saw Gwendolyn's utterly devastated face.

Outside in the streets, the countdown began. "Ten!"

Sebastian Spencer got on his knees.

"Nine!"

Gwendolyn's magic spilled from her being as her emotions got out of control.

"Eight!"

"Kat Olsen."

"Seven!"

Gwendolyn raised her hand, curled in a fist.

"Six!"

"I love you, from the bottom of my heart."

"Four!"

"Will you—"

Matilda didn't hear the rest. She teleported to where Gwendolyn stood, grabbed the witch and jumped into the balcony, planning on teleporting them elsewhere. But the red witch stopped her spell, midair, which just happened to topple the two of them over.

Both women plummeted to the ground, learning that Matilda had been right about witches not being the exception but the rule. The laws still applied to them, especially the law of gravity.

"One! Happy New Year!"