Sundew knocked on Willow's front door, still in the pajamas she had run away in. She was taking shelter in a house just a few doors down from the own she was hiding from. Well, the last place they'd expect, right?

When the door opened and Willow stood in front of her, surprised and delighted, Sundew felt safe again, not like the safe she felt in the forest, or the safe she felt with Cricket and Blue, but safe like she could be herself and not be punished for it.

Willow threw herself at her, nearly knocking her back, hugging her around then neck.

"Where were you? I was so worried when you didn't show up that night! Don't ever do that again!"

"Ouch! Hey! I missed you too." Sundew hugged Willow back.

"Willow?" Sundew heard another girl's voice from inside the house. "Who's at the door?"

"You get to finally meet my family." Willow said to Sundew, letting go of her. "Come inside."

The house was warm and cozy, and surprisingly active at that hour of the night. There were house plants everywhere, and here and there, an unpacked moving box. A girl who must've been around seventeen sat cross legged on a large tan coloured couch. She had long hair similar to Willow's and wore a baggy sweatshirt with lots of different font designs on it. She held an ancient looking book open in her lap.

"Hazel, this is Sundew, my girlfriend." Willow introduced. "Sundew, this is my older sister, Hazel."

Sundew barely heard the last part over the sound of fireworks going off. She felt lighter than air and probably had a dopey expression on her face but she didn't care! Willow just called me her girlfriend! She loved that word so much, suddenly.

Hazel smiled politely and looked like she was about to say something but got interrupted by another woman entering the room.

"Who's at the door? Oh! Who's this?" The woman looked to be in her mid-fifties and had once dark brown hair, now quite gray with some dark patches still hanging on. She had a strong jawline despite her wrinkled complexion, and wore an old apron.

"Mom, this Sundew. Sundew, this is my Mom."

"Lovely. Are you a friend from school?" The matriarch asked.

"Girlfriend." Said Hazel from the couch, quite invested in her book again.

"Even better." She smiled." Glad to see Willow's getting out a little more." She sighed and shook her head. "If only you could do the same to Hazel. Since graduating early, I don't think she's left the house."

"Mom!" Hazel laughed at the tease.

The mother extended her hand and Sundew shook it. "Happy to meet you, Sundew."

"You too, Ma'am."

"Oh, please. Call me Mrs. Sequoyah." She said pleasantly.

"Thank you." Sundew said again.

"Why are you visiting so late?" Hazel asked. "Don't you two see each other at school often enough?"

Sundew sighed. "I kinda ran away from home a few days ago. I might as well tell you the full story." She sat down on the couch and Willow sat next to her. Sequoyah sat on an adjacent chair. As Sundew started from the beginning, Willow started slowly braiding her hair, and Sundew let her.

"And I had to move from Cricket's house, and I thought maybe I could stay here for a few days." Sundew finished.

"Sure you can stay!" Willow looked at Sequoyah. "Right?"

"I don't mind." Said Hazel. "So long as you don't snore. Do you snore? Because mom snores enough for the whole house, and we don't need any more."

"Probably. For a little at least." Sequoyah said slowly.

"Really?" Sundew had prepared for the worst. "That was easy." Willow elbowed her and Hazel laughed.

"Me and Belladonna, don't get along." Sequoyah said. "We have known each other much longer than we've been neighbors, and there have been bumps in our relationship." She shrugged with a smirk. "I don't mind aiding a fugitive if it means getting on her nerves."

Willow jumped up and pulled Sundew to her feet. "We have a futon you can sleep on! Let me show you my room." She grinned. "I'm so happy you're here. You can stay as long as you like."

Sundew grinned back. "I missed you."

"Wow, are you ok? That was awfully mushy for my Sundew." She felt her forehead for a temperature.

"I've had a few late nights." Sundew explained.

"Sleep deprivation. That'll do it. Better get to bed quickly." She led her up the stairs, down a hallway, and into a small guestroom with a blanketed and pillowed futon. Sundew sat down and Willow sat with her.

"How long do you plan to stay here?" Willow turned so she faced Sundew on the futon.

"As long as I'm able. I already enjoy it here more than back at home." Sundew tucked a lock of hair behind Willow's ear.

"Me too."

They were quiet for a minute.

"You never said why you got grounded." Willow mentioned. Sundew had glazed over how because she wasn't sure if Willow would have gotten in trouble if her family knew they were sneaking out.

"Oh, well. That last night we met, when I got home my mom was waiting for me. She grounded me pretty badly." Sundew chuckled.

"Oh Sundew." Her voice was sad now. "You got grounded because of me? I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Sundew stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. "Besides, it was my idea to sneak out with you."

They sat in peaceful quiet, just enjoying each other's company. Then, before Sundew knew what had happened, Willow leaned forward and kissed her. It only lasted a moment, but it made Sundew buzz with happiness, and if there were fireworks before, there fireworks everywhere. But soon, Willow pulled away, and smiled at the expression on Sundew's face.

"Goodnight, Love." She said as she left the room.

"Goodnight, Love." Sundew murmured back, still rather star-struck. "See you tomorrow."