It was late when Katie opened her eyes. She knew it because her clock told her it was almost seven o'clock. She found herself thinking back to when Luke and Gideon had broken her out of the prison. She'd woken up in her bed without remembering how she'd got there then, as well. She slowly sat up. Something stuck to her cheek as she did so. Reaching up, she realised it was a sticking plaster. Then, she remembered Jessica leaving a painful gash there in her anger. She felt it gingerly. It still stung a little. It was then that she smelled cooking from the kitchen. Just as she recognised the smell, her stomach grumbled loudly. It was true that she hadn't eaten anything since the night before. Needing no further prompting, she got to her feet, changed into some fresh clothes and went downstairs. Everyone was bustling about getting dinner ready.

For a few seconds, she stayed silent, just watching them, a rush of affection for all of them welling within her. Just then, Gideon looked up as he set down the plates on the table, and saw her.

"Katie!"

In three strides, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. She hugged him back for all she was worth. Only know did she realise she had almost been separated from him, from them, forever.

"I was so worried about you..." he said. "Are you okay?"

Katie was still shaken, and she felt it would probably take a while for things to feel normal again, but she wasn't too worried. She had her family, Lucy, and Luke to help her through it.

"Yes," she said. "I'm fine, now."

She wrapped her arms around her brother again.

"Hey, what about me?!" Hazel exclaimed.

Katie and Gideon could only laugh at that.

"You're right," Katie agreed. "Come here."

They opened their arms for their younger sister, who hurried over. They simply held each other in silence a few moments, then Kendall said:

"Come on, you must be starving."

Katie flushed as her stomach grumbled again.

"I am kind of hungry," she admitted sheepishly.

"Then you're just in time," Helaena smiled, setting the food on the table.

They sat down and began to dig in.

"Have you heard from Luke, is he okay?" Katie asked after a few moments.

"Loran called a couple of hours ago, to see how you were."

"... Wait, Loran called to ask about me?" Katie inquired, surprised.

"He did," Kendall nodded. "He told me Luke was resting, but would be just fine."

"Good," Katie replied, relieved.

She paused, then said:

"... So... does this mean you and Mr Devon are on speaking terms again?"

Kendall pondered a moment.

"... I suppose we're getting there, yes. Why d'you ask?"

Helaena let out a quiet laugh.

"I would have thought it was obvious, dear. She's trying to find out if you'll let her see Luke, and his father'll let him."

Kendall paused, his expression unreadable. Katie couldn't tell if he was disapproving or not.

"If Loran agrees, then of course you can."

Katie threw her arms around her father, then wolfed down her dinner and shot up to her room. She then yanked up her phone and dialled Luke's number. She waited for him to answer, then wondered if he might still be sleeping. She'd slept late, after all, and he'd been injured... Maybe she shouldn't have called...

"Hey, I was wondering when you'd call," Luke's teasing voice said.

"My stomach was being rather insistent that I tend to it first," Katie grinned.

"Ah, I see. All right, I'm willing to forgive you."

Katie giggled.

"So, how are you?" she asked.

"Fit as a flea," he assured her. "Our dads did a good job."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it."

"It's all thanks to you, though," he commented. "If you hadn't turned the wall into paper, I probably wouldn't be here any more."

"Yes, I know."

She paused a second, glancing out the window. It was snowing again.

"So, it appears our dads are speaking again," Katie said. "Without yelling, I mean."

"Yes, my mother told me he'd called your house."

"And my dad says we can see each other if yours agrees."

"Really?"

"Yes, I just asked him."

"Well, I asked my dad, and he wasn't exactly over the moon about it, but he didn't say I couldn't see you. He didn't scowl when I mentioned you, so I'd say that's a win."

Katie smiled.

"Yes, I would agree it's definitely an improvement," she chuckled.

She leaned against the wall.

"Did they tell you what was going to happen to Jessica?"

"She's being detained at the Council for now, I think. My Dad went to see how things were going. He reckons they'll need our testimonies, when we're better."

Katie couldn't help thinking she didn't want to see Jessica again any time soon, but she realised she probably wouldn't have much of a choice.

"So, what did she say to you before I got there?"

"... We were right. Our parents were the targets. All the clan leaders were. She holds them responsible for putting her in that institution. When..."

She hesitated.

"When she heard I'd taken the pledge, and had been praised and encouraged... she snapped."

Luke began to ask why, then it hit him.

"Oh, I get it... because she was put away almost at once after hers..."

"That's basically what she said, yes..." Katie said. "She was jealous."

There was a silence. Katie's always known she had things others didn't, but Jessica had hardly had a difficult life... a loving family, a comfortable home, school, warm meals... had she really hated magic that much?

"Hey... did you hear anything about Councillor Lawson?"

"Not yet. But he's been taken into custody for obstruction of justice, complicity and wrongful imprisonment. Oh, and abuse of power."

Katie whistled.

"No one knows what they'll do with them yet, though." Luke continued. "And they need to elect a new Councillor, too."

"Yeah, I imagine the do... the Council can't work with two people in case of a tie."

"Got it in one."

This meant the leaders would all be potential candidates. Only the leader could be on the Council, and then their successor would take over as leader of the Clan.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I don't feel like talking over the phone any more."

Katie blinked.

"Kind of abrupt, aren't you?"

Luke paused a second, then laughed.

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean it like that!" he told her. "I meant I wanted to see you. In person."

Katie relaxed.

"Oh, all right. I'll see if I can sneak out," she smiled. "Angel Central tomorrow morning?"

"Sounds like a date," he grinned.

Katie rolled her eyes with a chuckle and hung up.

The snow still hadn't stopped, the next morning when Katie drove up to the shopping centre, leaving a white coat just about everywhere she looked. The sun was up, at least, that made things easier. The Christmas and New Year decorations had long since been taken down, but some shops were already putting up colourful announcements for special Valentine's Day deals.

If this continues, it'll be a white Valentine's day, Katie thought with a smile. Can't have been many of those in history...

As she turned a corner, she thought back to what her parents had told her at breakfast. Jessica and Councillor Lawson would both be held accountable, the latter having confessed to covering for Jessica and all the other charges, but only Jessica would be Dispelled. Except that the witches and warlocks in charge of studying the process had discovered how to do it without risking killing the Dispelled, by using four warlocks instead of three as they had before. Then, Jessica would be put back in the institution, but under tight security and her medication would be administered to her differently. And while Councillor Lawson would be able to visit her once a month, he would be imprisoned for the next twenty years.

The trial had been held secretly, because the announcement to the magical world would be difficult enough... Councillor Lawson had been on the Council for nearly fifteen years, learning what he'd done was going to hit them hard. She wondered how they would go about selecting the new Councillor... she also had no idea how it would affect her and her family if it was Kendall. She had never considered that. And what if it was Luke's father? Would that be a new obstacle for them if either of their parents were elected? She sincerely hoped not, because after their struggles of the past few months, she honestly had no idea how she would be able to take that kind of pain again...

Her father hadn't mentioned anything about it, but that didn't mean the issue wouldn't arise later. She decided not to think about that for now. They would deal with that when it came up. Until then, there was nothing keeping them apart any more. It took her a little longer because the snow made the road slippery, but she eventually reached Angel Central. She climbed out of the car, rubbing her hands as she made to the statue. Soon, she recognised Luke in the distance. She would have known him anywhere. She felt a goofy grin creep onto her face, her heart beat faster, but in a way that felt different from the other occasions. She had been nervous before, struggling to keep her body's reactions reined in. Now, she was simply excited to see the one she loved.

"Luke!" she called, waving.

He looked around, and she felt butterflies in her stomach as she saw his face light up. He waved too, and Katie, ignoring the fact that she might fall over and break a leg, ran forwards. When she'd reached him, she flung her arms around him, almost knocking him over.

"Wow," Luke laughed, "if I'd known I'd get this kind of greeting, I'd have called you sooner."

"Oh, shut up," she grinned and kissed him.

They pulled each other close, no longer feeling the cold wind and snow falling around them. In fact, there could have been an explosion right next to them and they wouldn't have noticed.

"Why did you suggest we meet here?" Luke enquired. "Not that I'm complaining, I just always thought this was your and Lucy's spot."

Katie glanced around at the familiar buzz of people coming and going.

"Yes, it is..." she said. "But I like it here. It's like someone's watching over us."

She nodded towards the angel statue nearby. He followed her gaze.

"I like that idea," he decided.

"Me too," Katie smiled.

They looked into each other's eyes. Katie then took Luke's face in her hands and kissed him again, relishing in the fact that she could finally do so freely. Then, she took his hand and they walked into the shopping centre, fully intending to act just like normal teenagers, for once. Because, really, that was what they were.