~

"Okay, just go over the plan one more time." Sarah asked again for the millionth time.

"Sarah, dear Sarah," Celeste sighed, "I'm not going to yell at you because you are pregnant, but I am not repeating myself again. Ask somebody else to explain it to you. Because if I have to explain myself one more time I might-" Ellis grabbed Celeste on their shoulders, slowly having them back away from his wife.

"Calm down, little witch. We're all just a little stressed." He comforted.

"Ellis," Celeste inhaled and exhaled, "Get your hands off of me before I cut your balls off!" She yelled before walking into her bedroom.

"Everything okay?" Malina looked up from her laptop.

"No. Sarah keeps asking me to repeat myself every three minutes, Ellis keeps acting like he is prince charming, and oh, don't let me forget, Selena isn't freaking here yet!" Celeste shouted, explaining her frustration.

"It's okay, Celeste. She'll be here soon." Malina assured, patting the empty seat next to them on the bed. Celeste plopped down on the bed next to the hero.

"This is so stressful. How do you plan a war?" Celeste asked herself, laying down on her back.

"As my stepdad says to me when things get stressful," Malina said, "Sie müssen nicht die ganze Treppe sehen, sondern nur die erste Stufe nehmen"

"Translation?" Celeste asked.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase to take the first steps." Malina translated for the witch. Celeste sat up and peered into the hero's eyes.

"You're the one that's missing!" Celeste grabbed Malina's hand and dragged her out of the room and into the living room, "We need an aspect of fire. The only other way to kill vampires we haven't thought of: is fire."

"Celeste, I have no knowledge on how to fight vampires." Malina said she didn't want to get involved. Sure, she loved Celeste but this was a fight between vampires and witches.

"Amy is coming down, along with some other talented witches that have experience fighting vampires. They'll teach you all you need to know." Ellis assured.

What am I getting myself into? Malina thought.

"This is just the beginning." Sarah looked up, "Celeste, may I talk to you?" She asked, looking worried. Celeste nodded and helped Sarah up as they walked over to the bedroom to talk. Just then a knock came from behind the front door.

"I'll get it." Malina walked up to the door and peered in the peephole. Ian. She opened the door, "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Let's talk outside." Malina's ex held a bouquet of flowers. The hero walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind them, "For you." Ian handed the flowers to Malina. They were yellow tulips.

"Warum hast du die Frechheit, in der Wohnung meiner Freundin aufzutauchen? Was willst du?" Malina asked. "Why do you have the nerve to show up at my girlfriend's apartment? What do you want?"

"Ich habe dich vermisst" Ian answered, stepping closer to Malina. "I missed you"

"Bullshit. Warum bist du eigentlich hier?" Malina scoffed. "Why are you actually here?"

"Rede nicht so mit mir." Ian gripped the hero's arm hard, "Ich bin dein Liebhaber und du wirst mich respektieren." "Don't talk to me like that" "I am your lover and you will respect me."

"Du?" Malina laughed, "Du bist nicht mein Geliebter." The hero dropped the bouquet of flowers onto the floor, shattering the vase they stood in.

"You've gotten ballsy." Ian scowled.

"Go fick dich selber." Malina walked back into the apartment and slammed the door.

"Who was that?" Ellis asked, jumping slightly as the door slammed.

"No one important." Malina responded. Sarah and Celeste walked out of the bedroom and seemed tense.

"What?" Ellis questioned. Sarah whispered something into his ear. He whispered something back. Why were they being so secretive? Malina wanted to ask but she wasn't going to tell them about Ian showing up randomly, they didn't have to tell her anything in return. A knock brought everyone's attention. Malina answered it, if it was Ian again she was going to set him on fire. Okay, maybe not actually.

"Malina!" Puck, Gideon, and Blaise all said in unison immediately latching on to Malina.

"Oh! Hello!" Malina hugged the triplets, caught off guard.

"Hello, Malina. Puck, Gideon, Blaise, get off of her." Selena greeted the hero, ordering her little brothers off of them. The four siblings walked through the door and set their things down.

"Hi little brothers!" Celeste squatted down and hugged the triplets, "How are you guys?" The witch turned into moosh while talking to her little brothers. She never saw them that much.

"Why are you late, Selena?" Malina asked, "Celeste has been in here stressing out. You were supposed to be here two hours ago!"

"I thought everyone was meeting at two." Selena arched her eyebrow.

"No! The group text specifically said twelve!" Malina scolded.

"I am so sorry that my mother's death is affecting me, I'll make sure I'm five hours early next time." Selena responded.

"You know that's not what I meant." Malina said, "And you better not have told those children." And with that Selena walked away from the hero.

"Alright, now that the main group is here, let's discuss." Celeste stood up.

~

Marvel sat up in bed, back against the headboard. Forrest laid asleep next to them. This was one of the plenty times he wished vampires became tired and needed sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about James and Celeste. Everything was becoming more complicated.

"Mm." Forrest mumbled as they turned onto their side. Marvel looked down at the superhero. Would what they're doing technically make them the supervillain? "Can't sleep?" They asked.

"I don't sleep, remember?" Marvel responded.

"Huh, guess I still believe vampires sleep in coffins." Forrest laughed. They grabbed Marvel's hand and kissed it, "What's on your mind?" The superhero asked. Marvel seemed tense. Well, tenser than usual. Since he hasn't been able to control his thirst it's harder for them to be around each other. Forrest had suggested multiple times to just turn them but Marvel refused.

"They're planning a war. I'm still connected to Celeste, I can hear her thoughts. She was always a loud thinker." The supervillain said. He stared at the superhero, waiting for a reply.

"What do you want to do?" Forrest asked, planting another kiss onto Marvel's hand.

"I was thinking, we need to get in touch with the Lancasters before they do. They are some of the most powerful witches, and they're going to want them on their side when it's time to fight." Marvel answered. It was a simple enough plan, anyone with common sense could think of it really.

"The Lancasters? Someone named Jackie Lancaster started working at the Agency not too long ago." Forrest's eyes lit up.

"Really? Can you set up a meeting? I need to get these started. I have some emails to send." Marvel begged.

"Yes, of course." The superhero smiled. Marvel grabbed his laptop from the nightstand and started writing emails. His phone pinged. The supervillain grabbed the phone. It was a text message from James! Marvel removed his hand from Forrest's grip and texted back. James wanted to talk about their last encounter. Of course, Marvel said yes. That had some things to discuss. Marvel really liked the detective of course, but he also liked Forrest. A typical love triangle.

~

"I reached out to the Lancasters, with help from Malina." Celeste started, "First we had to secure a meeting with Jackie Lancaster, which was successful. Then, we talked with his wife, which then led us to his mother and father. And they all agreed to help!" She high fived the hero.

"And this is all possible because of Malina?" Selena asked.

"Yes. Without me you guys would have no connection to the Lancasters and it would take longer than needed just to even get a meeting with Jackie." Malina said, "It was actually kind of weird how fast they agreed. The way Celeste described them it seemed like they wouldn't!"

"Well..." Ellis trailed.

"Don't you dare!" Sarah hit her husband in the gut.

"Well" What?" Malina questioned.

"Me and Jackie had a fling." Celeste answered bluntly, "Not recently! But a long time ago, my mother set us up. It was a one time thing and we both promised to have one "IOU" moment, and this just so happens to be mine."

"Oh, okay." Malina shrugged. She didn't seem mad. Surprisingly.

"Ellis I swear I'll-" "It's fine, Sarah. Really, everything is fine. It was a long time ago." Malina cut off the pregnant witch.

"Actually it was only a year ago." Blaise spoke out of the blue.

"Blaise!" Selena scolded.

"A year ago can still be a long time!" Celeste told their brother.

"I guess?" Blaise looked up in thought.

"Here." Selena handed Blaise her phone, "Play on this and stay out of the grown folks business!"

"Selena. It's fine." Celeste glared at her sister.

"Celeste." Malina downed a glass of wine before walking into the bedroom for a private discussion. Why do I keep getting called on to be talked to in private? Celeste thought, agonized.

Malina sat down on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs. Celeste entered the bedroom and closed the door behind them. We are the definition of pillow talk. She thought as she joined the hero on the bed. Malina didn't speak, so neither did Celeste. The witch peered into the hero's eyes, trying to read her mind. Literally.

"I can't read you anymore. Why can't I read you?" Celeste asked.

"I learned how to shield myself. I'm going to be surrounded with witches and wizards and warlocks! I need to protect the little bit of privacy I do have." Malina answered. Celeste nodded. Fair. She thought. But that wasn't the conversation Malina pulled them into the room for.

"You lied to me." The hero spoke, finally.

"Yeah." Celeste sighed.

"Why? I just poured my whole sob ex story to you, but you can't tell me you hooked up with Jackie Lancaster?" Malina whispered-yelled, she didn't want the triplets nor anyone in the living room to hear. Little to no privacy, remember?

"I know! And I'm sorry but I thought you were going to freak out and go into self-destruct mode!" Celeste yelled.

"Everything okay there?" Selena shouted from inside the living room.

"We're fine!" Malina shouted back.

"Sorry." Celeste lowered their tone, "Listen, I'm sorry. I just think that "fling" wasn't very important to tell. I didn't even think it was a possibility that's why Jackie would be helping us."

"It's okay." Malina sighed, "I just- I don't want to be in a relationship where we are lying to each other constantly. I want honesty. Especially now."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." Celeste apologized again.

"It's fine, Celeste. C'mere." Malina grabbed the witch's face and pulled her in for a kiss. This whole "fling" thing was a silly thing to try and pick a fight over. But maybe it was all about trusting each other. Whatever it was, Malina seemed to forgive Celeste. Celeste kissed the hero back before slowly starting to trail kisses down their neck.

"I think I'm starting to feel a little less stressed." Celeste smiled and placed their forehead onto Malina's.

"Me too." Malina kissed Celeste again.

"Come on. We still some things to plan. Maybe I can make another list!" Celeste stood up from the bed and entered back into the living room where everyone was chatting among themselves. Dominique and Amy had arrived. Celeste walked outside of the apartment for a few minutes to speak with Dominique.

"Malina!" Amy called Malina into the kitchen as Celeste and Dominique pulled away.

"Amy! Hi!" Malina hugged Celeste's best friend.

"Hi!" Amy greeted, "I wanted to ask you a question. It's kind of random."

"Dominique's married." Malina responded.

"Huh? Oh no! That's not what I was going to say." Amy laughed. Malina forcefully laughed. Awkward.

"Would Celeste be mad if I brought Jenny along?" Celeste's best friend asked. Malina's first thought was to immediately say "yes", but she didn't want to get involved with ex drama. Especially since their ex recently resurfaced. It couldn't be a coincidence.

"You might want to take this up with Celeste." Hero said before walking away from the witch. When Celeste and Dominique reentered the apartment, it looked like Dominique had just witnessed a murder. The both of them seemed tense after their conversation. What had they discussed?

~

Celeste laid on her back, staring up at the darkened ceiling. It was one of those sleepless nights again. Their vampire bite had been healing over smoothly, so she didn't understand what was keeping her up. War planning? Their conversation with Dominique? Malina's ex suddenly showing up? Was it because she couldn't read Malina's mind anymore? Maybe it was the ex thing. Celeste just couldn't keep it out of her head.

The witch turned and faced the asleep hero. Well, half asleep hero. Celeste smiled. Even in Malina's dreams it looks like she is yelling at someone. How can someone so fierce get themself caught up in a person like Ian? Ever since their first official Hero and Villain fight together, Malina seemed so fierce. She always seemed so strong and independent to Celeste. So how does she always find herself in the worst situations possible. The hero's eyes flickered.

"You awake?" Celeste asked. Malina slightly opened her eyes before blinking them completely open and yawning.

"Hi." She spoke.

"Hi, did I wake you from my shifting?" Celeste returned.

"Yeah. Are you okay?" Malina answered and asked a question in return.

"I just- Remember back to that first night when you met my mother and sister for the first time?" Celeste replied, Malina nodded, "You said something about half the ladies you like never liked you back, but you got engaged to a man, forcefully or not. And you also used to date a man."

"Are you doubting my feelings for you?" Malina asked, furrowing a brow.

"No, no. I guess, well, I don't really know what I'm saying." Celeste answered.

"I mentioned that I like women to drop a hint, I guess is the best way to put it." Malina shrugged, "Micheal was an arranged marriage. I never really had feelings for him, he had some for me though. I dated Ian because I was young and in love and naive. I looked right past his lies and manipulations. Overall, I don't really care who I date as long as they treat me right."

"Do I treat you right?" Celeste questioned.

Malina sighed and smiled,, "Yes. Yes, you do, my love."

"I'm glad. I don't want us to turn out toxic and horrible. Like our exes." The witch sighed a sigh of relief. That was one thing to check off the checklist. Everything between Malina and them was fine. She didn't know why she would doubt them in the first place.

"Me either." Malina returned. She cuddled up into the witch's chest and side. Wrapping the both of them up with the blanket. This was as peaceful as they will get before the war. Everything so far has been hectic and out of place. Malina couldn't help but want to tell Celeste about what Amy had said earlier, but she said it wasn't her place. So, the hero drifted to sleep hoping the next couple days, or weeks, or months, were all spent with Celeste and everything would be okay. But, dreams don't always turn out how you want them to.