Penelope was pleased to see Han was the only one in her living room when she walked out. The shower had revitalized her and she didn’t feel as angry as she had before. Her body had reached a sort of Zen point, for the moment.

“Should we find an old funny movie to watch and break out the wine?” Penelope asked.

Han handed her a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch. “Sure, after we talk for a while. I want to get to know you better.”

“Why?” Penelope asked taking a sip. He’d put just the right amount of creamer in it.

“I know what you’re like under pressure, I know what you’re like in the sack, but I want to know what you’re like under here.” He put his hand on her heart and a chill went through her. No one had ever cared enough to ask about her feelings. Even Jeremy could be super insensitive sometimes.

“Tell me about your mother.”

That subject was something that could open a whole can of worms. There weren’t many people in the world who cared about her mother, and their life together. Bianca Cradle had been a complicated woman. She’d always told Penelope she didn’t need a father because she was strong enough to be both of her parents.

When she was younger her mother had been great, even though it was possible she had been doing evil things even then. It was hard to believe the mother who’d pretend her wagon was a boat as she pulled her through the sprinklers was capable of killing people for her own pleasure. She couldn’t imagine the woman singing Row Your Boat was also torturing people with poisonous spells for money. The older she got though, the more she thought it could have been possible her mother was always doing those things.

“So, my mom was great when I was five and younger. She made cookies, taught me things, sang to me, and she made me feel like I was very special.”

“That’s nice,” Han nodded.

“It was. Then it changed. She never used her magic for good. I mean when I was little she was my mom and that’s all I knew. As I got older she was just kind of not around as much and angrier with everything I did. I had asked her what she was drinking one time and she threw the cup at me.”

Penelope shook her head. “It was some kind of potent fairy alcohol. She would get angry when she drank. I just wanted some juice.”

Han reached out for her hand and she gave it to him.

“So, she used her magic for crimes?”

“Yes, when I was eleven, she sent me to Cedar Falls to live with her mother, Skye Cradle. I didn’t understand, until my grandmother finally told me mom had gone to jail. The jail they put me in for the whole Jeremy thing.”

He nodded although she’d never really explained the whole Jeremy thing to him.

“When she got out, our relationship was strained. I had just turned fourteen and was fully a teenager. I’m talking sneaking out, smoking, ditching school. You name it and I did it. I didn’t appreciate her leaving me and I was less than kind.”

“Well, that’s understandable,” Han said.

“So, long story short. She continued to get worse and started killing people. She didn’t care and then when I was sixteen, they told me she’d been killed in some strange battle of magic. I don’t even really know what happened.”

“What about your grandma? How’s your relationship with her?” Han asked.

“I was not a good girl when I lived with her. I’m sure I made her life hell. We talk every week on the phone and I go over every other Sunday to eat dinner with her. Our relationship is cordial.”

Han leaned over and kissed her sweetly. It was strange that so much information had come out of her. She’d never really talked about it before. He listened so attentively in a way that made her feel comfortable. She felt as if she could tell him anything and he would just listen.

They switched to wine after a talking for some time about everything under the sun. She felt safe with Han. After the third glass of wine, she felt happy and all the anxiety from the task at hand evaporated.

“I want to ask you something and you may think I’m crazy,” Han said after everyone had left.

“Okay, shoot,” Penelope said sitting on the couch.

Han kneeled in front of her and took her hand. “I’ve never met anyone like you. You excite me, you turn me on, and you make my heart beat fast.”

This was nice, but something was happening Penelope couldn’t quite figure out.

“That’s sweet, Han.”

“Will you marry me?” He pulled a ring from his pocket and held it out. It was a gorgeous diamond and ruby ring that caught the light and sparkled.

“Oh, Han. I’m just not sure. I mean I don’t know you that well,” Penelope felt like she needed to be honest with him. Part of her really wanted to say yes and just get wrapped up in the romantic nature of it. The other part of her felt a deep paranoia he was playing some kind of joke on her and rushing things was so not her nature.

“I’ve never felt the way I feel about you, in my life. I know you’re the one. I think you know I’m the one. Maybe you need to think about it.”

“I like being with you, but marriage is such a huge thing to me. To anyone.”

“So, I was good enough to sleep with, but not good enough to marry,” Han said bitterly, and then, suddenly, he ran out of the house.

Penelope called after him, “No that’s not it.” But, it was too late. She heard the unmistakable growl of his bear form as he left. He had disappeared into the woods and probably running as a bear for the rest of the night. For the first time, she was actually alone in her house. It was a good feeling, but it was also bad. She’d rather have him safe, inside, and happy with her.

She made sure the wards were up and went into her bedroom. He’d come back when he’d cooled off - hopefully. At some point, she dozed off because when she woke up the walls in her room were shaking. A picture of her with her grandma fell off her bedside table.

“What the hell?”

She sat up wondering if there was an earthquake and saw Lucas standing at the foot of her bed. The cloaked figure with him raised her hands and they glowed pulling Penelope up out of the bed. She couldn’t defend herself against it.

“You’re coming with us witch,” Lucas said and they both laughed.