“Hi Lilly you wanna come on back?” Stephenie said causing Lilly to follow behind her into her office 

“So Lilly how have you been doing? Last time we talked your nightmares were under control and you even starting to perk up a bit.” Stephenie said 

“Yeah I have been getting full nights of sleep and even starting to coup with what Todd did. I talked to his boyfriend who said Todd would put on an act but would never actually do anything which helped a lot with realizing that I was assaulted but it wasn’t of my attacker's free will but then that means that my attacker is still out there” Lilly said wrapping her arms around her self at the thought of that 

“ How are you dealing with that?” Stephenie said 

“It’s okay I’m keeping to myself more and only talking to Abby and people I know I can trust, I didn’t find the person who used magic to use Todd so mom says that theirs no real point of me trying anymore which is unsettling but I’m trying not to focus on it with everything at school.” Lilly replied.

“What's going on at school anything new we didn’t talk about since last week, you mentioned a showcase how did that go?” Stephenie asked

“It was good the audience really loved it but before the final song where I would have gotten a solo at the end My voice got scratchy and I was unable to sing which upset me but I knew it could happen so it's not as heartbreaking as it would be if it was a shock,” Lilly said.

“I’m sorry that happened to you but at least you enjoyed yourself and didn’t let it upset you too much. Anything else new or coming up?” Stephenie asked 

“Well finals are coming up soon and tryouts for gymnastics are coming up too so I’m excited to try that,” Lilly said joyfully 

“Are you nervous about finals?” Stephenie said 

“No my classes aren’t that hard so I think I’ll be okay” Lilly responded.

“That's good, and gymnastics, is that something you enjoy?” Stephenie asked.

“I always wanted to do it and enjoyed watching it on tv but never got to do it and now that I can I’m super excited!” Lilly said 

“That's great, I’m glad you are feeling good about this, I know you quite cheer because of the feeling that it gave you after Todd are you nervous about that for gymnastics?” Stephenie said.

“Not really because the only males allowed are the ones in the stands so none are able to really able to do anything and now they have a female teacher watching the entrance of the locker room so I feel a lot safer now,” Lilly replied.

“Okay I was just checking and making sure you were okay enough to be comfortable,” Stephenie said 

“Is there anything else going on?” Stephenie asked 

“Nothing that is close, I wanna audition for the spring musical next month though,” Lilly said nonchalantly.

“That's exciting do you know what it is yet?”

“No, but there are rumors that it's going to be Carrie” 

“That's cool, going out for Carrie I assume?” Stephenie said. 

“Yeah I should be able to get it especially after the showcase” Lilly said 

“ That's good, anything else?” Stephenie asked.

“Not that I can think of at the moment,” Lilly said 

“ Okay, same time next week?” Stephenie said.

“ Sure that works,” Lilly said happily 

“ Okay have a good week,” Stephenie said smiling 

“You too!” Lilly replied

The two walked out into the waiting room where Lilly's mom was waiting for her.

“Hey sweetie, how’d it go?” Lilly's mom said 

“It went good,” Lilly said.

“That's good to hear you ready to go?” her mom asked  

“Yeah, I have a test to study for so we should probably get home,” Lilly said.

The two of them left the office and went home where they had leftovers from the night before and Lilly went up to prepare for her test tomorrow and fell asleep at her desk where she was woken up by her alarm and had to rush out the door to school where she took her test and moved through her day waiting to go home and study for her test tomorrow. Lillys week of finals went rather well and she feels like she aced all her tests and once Friday came around she was finally on winter break and could relax and practice magic and spend time with Abby. 

“Hey mom I have been thinking, can we have Abby and her family over for Christmas dinner?” Lilly asked.

“Aren’t they going to their relatives?” Lillys mom asked 

“On Christmas eve they are but Abby asked me to spend some time on Christmas with her so I thought that our two families could spend Christmas together,” Lilly said 

“That's a good idea sweetie I don’t see why we couldn’t.” Lilly's mom said 

“That's awesome thanks mom I'm gonna go tell Abby,” Lilly said excitedly 

“Not so fast young lady!” Lilly's mom said 

“Why?” Lilly said confused

“No talking to Abby until after magic practice you are behind a bit and I want to use this break to catch you up.” Lilly's mom said 

“But I have all of break to catch up,” Lilly whined.

“No buts now down to the training room to work on the next spell which according to my understanding should be form change magic meaning turning water to ice or earth to metals and such” Lillys mom said.

“Actually I should work on the basic elements a bit more just so I know for sure I have it down especially because I have been neglecting magic a bit since it failed me that night but I’m feeling okay enough to jump back into it,” Lilly said confidently. 

“Okay sweetie, let's get to work,” her mom said as they walked down into the basement to practice magic Lilly practiced the basic elements and showed that she had enough of an understanding to start working on form changes. Lilly worked all day only stopping to eat and by the end of the day, she was able to only partially freeze the water into slush. 

“Good job sweetie, we can work on it more tomorrow but for now get some rest,” her mom said

“Okay, good night mom loves you,” Lilly said with a yawn before walking up to her room to sleep. This routine continued all throughout break accept a few days where Lilly and Abby went on dates before for long it was Christmas morning and Lilly was ecstatic to celebrate her first real Christmas as Lilly. When she walked into the living room she saw so many presents that she didn’t know how to respond 

“Merry Christmas Lilly,” her mom said with a smile 

“Mom you really didn’t have to, I would have been fine with one thing. This” Lilly said “This must have cost a fortune” 

“Nonsense, nothing is too much for you especially after all you’ve been through your first Christmas since the transformation you deserve the best” her mom smiled 

“ I don’t- I- I don’t know what to say except, thank you,” Lilly said tearfully 

Lilly dried her eye and began opening the presents from her mom each one better than the last. Overall she got a few summer dresses with flower prints on them, a party dress that was black and had lace-up arms and stopped up above the keen, a pair of black 3-inch heels, some jeans, and long sleeve top and a new pair of knee-length uggs.

“So sweetie what did you think about your presents?” 

“I loved them, thank you, mom,” Lilly said 

“Anything for you dear.” Lilly’s mom with a smile. The day went along with Lilly getting ready for Christmas dinner with Abby and her family and helping her mom prepare the food before long it was already 6 the table was still being set when there was a knock at the door

“Lilly dear can you get that I while I finish setting the table,” her mom asked 

“Sure thing mom,” Lilly said before leaving the kitchen and walking to the front door. When Lilly opened the door she saw Abby in a beautiful long-sleeved red dress and subtle eye make up 

“Abby you look amazing!” Lilly said before pulling her in for a hug and a kiss.

“Aww thank you so much baby I appreciate it,” Abby said before looking at Lillys dress which was the one she got for Christmas 

“You’re not too bad yourself,” Abby said with a grin 

“Ahem,” Abby’s dad said clearing his throat 

“Sorry sir please come in,” Lilly said welcoming Abby’s parents into the house. Lilly’s mom finished setting the table 

“Hello welcome, thank you for coming,” Lilly’s  mom said greeting the guest 

“Thank you for having us, Miss. Davis” Abby’s mom said with a smile 

They walked over to the table to eat and then dug into their food, they talked and the parents shared embarrassing stories of the kids and memories of the kids together causing Abby and Lilly to sink into there seats but this was interrupted by a phone call on Abby’s mom’s  cellphone 

“Hold on one sec” she said before standing up and walking away. After hearing some minor shouting Abby’s mom returned with a pained look on her face

“I’m sorry but we have to go I got called into the office about the case, I’m so sorry”

“Aww come on mom can I please stay  night there isn’t any school tomorrow” Abby pleeded 

“Of course you can I’m not gonna keep you apart” Abby’s dad said sending a slight glare his wifes way

“Fine, she can stay over, come on dear we have to get going” Abbys mom said to her husband before they got up and left.

“They are gonna fight,” Abby said glumly 

“What makes you think that?” Lilly asked 

“She said it in an annoyed way and didn’t say goodbye” Abby replied 

“Abby baby, are you okay?” Lilly asked trying to comfort her girlfriend 

“Yeah, they have been fighting a lot lately mom’s never home and when she is she is just arguing with how dads raising me while she works long hours,” Abby replied 

“Oh Abby dear, I’m sorry.  Tell you what why don’t you girls go up and get pajamas on and I’ll make some hot cocoa and we can put on a movie?” Mrs. Davis said in a caring tone 

“Yeah Abs! Come on my mom's hot chocolate is to die for!” Zoey said cheerfully.

“I guess that sounds nice,” Abby replied before following Lilly upstairs.

Before long the two girls can back down Abby wearing a pair of legging that she never got to return and a short sleeve shirt. Lilly was wearing a pair of polar bear pajama pants and a baggy shirt. They sat on the couch and snuggled together while Mrs. Davis finished up the hot cocoa and brought in three mugs on a tray

“Here you go, girls, I hope you don’t mind if I join you watching the movie,” Mrs.Davis said

“Of course mom” Lilly replied with a smile 

The three of them decided on the Pixar movie Onward since it was something Abby really wanted to see. They enjoyed the movie and before the end, the two girls were asleep on the couch in each other's arms, Mrs.Davis got up and covered the girls with a blanket deciding to wake them up because she knew that pain.

Zoey had a peaceful night's sleep and when she woke up in the morning she found Abby wide awake watching cartoons. When Abby felt Lilly stunning she looked down to see Lilly staring up at her. 

“Good morning sleeping beauty,” Abby said smiling 

“You didn’t have to wait for me to wake up to move ya know,” Lilly said groggily.

“I wanted to because I got to see the most beautiful sight ever, my girlfriend sleeping,” Abby replied running her hand through Lilly's hair. 

Before long it was time for Abby to go home and the couple said goodbye because they wouldn’t see each other again before the new year's party. With Abby gone Lilly got changed and went down to the basement to brush up on her magic and today's lesson was plant magic or well-converting earth magic into a vine.  She failed every attempt and exhausted herself to the point she was about to pass out 

“Sweetie go up to bed we can try again tomorrow.” Lilly's mom said.

Lilly took her moms advice and walked up to bed, she immediately passed out when her head hit the pillow. Her dreams were rather peaceful no more intrusions working with her therapist helped her to not focus on the bad stuff anymore. The next few days passed by the same Lilly practicing and trying to master this spell but shed couldn’t she remembered the wand, she hadn’t needed it in a while so she figured maybe practice with the wand would help before she did it on her own.

She ran up to her bedroom and retrieved the wand she tried the spell again and it worked the cinder blocks turned to vines. 

“Great job sweetie, you’ll be doing it on your own in no time” her mom replied happily 

“I just got the spell to work, it's gonna be a while,” Lilly said glumly  

“I believe in you, now go get ready the party starts in a few hours,” Her mom said smiling.

Lilly showered and washed her hair, once she was dried off she pulled the black dress she got for Christmas out of the closet along with a pair of thigh-high ankle boots and a pair of fishnets, for makeup she did a smokey look. Once the party started Lilly met Abby in the living room spent the whole night laughing together and as the ball dropped Lilly and Abby kissed and it was magical.