Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jupiter stared at the tray in front of him as he waited for Morrigan and Jack.

"Why did you call us here, uncle Jove?" Jack asked as he walked into Jupiter's study, Morrigan behind him. Jupiter sighed.

"Morrigan's parents will be staying at the hotel," he began, "I tried to get out of it but there was nothing I could do."

Morrigan looked as scared as she had when he had saved her life years ago and Jack looked furious.

"When are they coming?" Morrigan asked.

"Tomorrow," Jupiter replied, "I'm sorry about this, Mog."

Morrigan looked at the floor.

"Jove, you can't let them stay here!" Jack protested. He didn't know a lot about Morrigan's family, but he knew they weren't good people.

"If I had a choice they would be on the streets, Jack, but it would be treason if I refused," Jupiter replied.

"How long will the bastards be staying here?" Jack demanded.

"Less than a week," Jupiter replied. Jupiter looked at Morrigan and bit his lip, even without his witness ability he could tell she was upset.

"Fen should put sardines in their pillows," Jack stated. Jupiter considered his suggestion for a minute.

"While I can't tell her to do that, if she happened to do that I suppose I could turn the other way," Jupiter offered. Jack nodded.

"C-can I go?" Morrigan asked, barely holding back tears.

"Yeah, Mog," Jupiter replied, "you can both go if you want."

Morrigan ran out of the room. Jack followed, a determined look in his eyes.

Chapter Text

Jupiter looked at the clock for what must've been the hundredth time. There were still ten minutes before the Crows were supposed to arrive.

"Careful North, you nearly stepped on my tail," Fenestra growled. Jupiter hadn't even realized he was pacing.

"Sorry, Fen," he replied, flopping onto his sofa. "I just feel terrible for Mog; she shouldn't have to deal with those assholes!"

"Keep them separated," Fenestra suggested, brushing his head against Jupiter's leg.

"How," Jupiter asked, subconsciously petting Fenestra.

"Get the staff to make sure they don't run into her," Fenestra purred.

"Make her have to avoid people in her own home for a week?" Jupiter asked, "how does that sound good?"

"It's better than them running into her, is it not?" Fenestra asked.

"I guess," Jupiter replied, "I just feel bad doing this to her."

"But you didn't when you knew she was a Wundersmith and didn't tell her?" Fenestra asked.

"It was for her protection!" Jupiter countered.

"So is this," Fenestra replied simply, "They should be here soon."

Jupiter sighed, plastering on a smile before standing up.

Once he got to the lobby, the Crows were already talking to Kedgeree. He plastered on a smile and walked up to them.

"Hello," Jupiter greeted, forcing cheer into his voice.

Ornella scowled at Jupiter and he nodded to her.

"Who are you?" Corvus asked.

"I am the owner of the hotel," Jupiter replied, "I will be taking you to your room, Mr. Crow."

"It's chancellor Crow."

"Ah, my apologies, Mr. Crow."

Jupiter turned on his heel and started walking to the Crows' rooms—the furthest from the entrance—.

"What an animal," Ivy muttered. Jupiter rolled his eyes.

Corvus glared daggers into Jupiter's back as he walked.

"Be quiet, Ivy," Ornella growled.

"Oh shut up you old hag!" Ivy snapped.

"Don't tell me what to do, Ivy," Ornella countered. Ivy scoffed.

"What are your children's names?" Jupiter asked, eager to stop the Crows' bickering.

"Wolfram and Guntram," Corvus replied. Wolfram waved at Jupiter when his name was called.

"Hello!" He greeted, smiling happily.

"Hello," Jupiter replied, smiling back at the boy.

"Wolfram," Ivy began, "he wasn't talking to you."

Wolfram frowned. Jupiter wanted to say something, but stayed silent.

"I wanted to talk to him," Wolfram whispered to his brother. Guntram nodded.

"Is our room much further Mr..?" Corvus asked after a few minutes.

"Captain North," Jupiter replied, "We should be at your room soon."

"Hurry it up then, North," Corvus growled.

"Of course, Mr. Crow."

"Chancellor!"

"Ah, my apologies, Mr. Chancellor."

Wolfram snorted, making Ivy turn to him with a scowl.

"Wolfram! That was incredibly inappropriate," she scolded, "I'm sorry, he's normally much better behaved than this."

"It's no problem, ma'am," Jupiter replied, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Wolfram, apologize to the man," Ivy demanded.

"I don't want to," Wolfram whined, "All I did was laugh!"

"Wolfram!" Corvus exclaimed, "apologize now!" Jupiter turned his head to see fear radiating off both the children.

Wolfram pouted before turning to Jupiter and muttering an apology. Ornella frowned at the scene.

"It's all right Wolfram," Jupiter replied. He regretted putting the Crows at the top floor now, solely because it meant he had to deal with them as he brought them there. The group continued walking in silence--Ivy half-dragging the children after one of them stopped walkiing to look at the decor for a minute. After they had climbed almost every staircase in the hotel they got to the Crow's room.

"This is your room, information about the hotel and her schedules are inside," Jupiter explained, handing Ornella the keys.

"Don't give them to her," Ivy said, "Corvus should have them."

Ornella glared daggers into Ivy as she unlocked the door.

"What do we do if we have complaints?" Corvus asked.

"Keep them to yourself," Jupiter replied.

Corvus scoffed.

"Well then, you may go. I believe my family has more important matters than pretending to be a captain."

"Pretending?" Jupiter raised an eyebrow.

"You have no ship. You are no captain."

"I am," Jupiter protested, "Captain Jupiter North of the Wundrous Society, the League of Explorers and the Federation of Nevermoorian Hoteliers. Alternatively, The Great and Honourable Captain Sir Jupiter."

Corvus growled and the twins giggled.

"That was not funny!" Corvus barked, "Come."

Jupiter resisted the urge to intervene as Ivy dragged the children inside before slamming the door. As he was walking away he could here the children's parents yelling and groaned at the amount of complaints he would get from the people in the rooms next door.

Chapter Text

Morrigan:

"So, does anyone have any news?" Miss Cheery asked.

Morrigan frowned, wondering if she should tell her class about her family.

"Morrigan, do you have anything?"

"Um, well, my biological family is coming over from the Wintersea republic, and they're staying at the hotel," Morrigan replied before she could properly decided if she should or not.

"Wait, Jupiter isn't your biological dad?" Hawthorne asked.

"Are you stupid Hawthorne?" Cadence asked, "obviously Jupiter isn't her biological dad!"

"Yeah, I might be," Hawthorne admitted.

"Obviously," Cadence agreed.

"Who are your biological family?" Miss Cheery asked.

"My... Father is the Chancellor for of great Wolfacre," Morrigan replied, wincing when she called Corvus her father.

"Corvus, I've heard of him," Lambeth said with an emotion Morrigan couldn't quite read.

"Yeah, the rest of the family are coming as well," Morrigan muttered.

"Do you like them?" Anah asked.

"No," Morrigan replied, "it doesn't really matter anyway, Jupiter said he would try and keep them away from me and Jack."

"Is Fen going to put sardines in his bed?" Hawthorne asked.

"Probably," Morrigan replied.

Hawthorne laughed, and Anah looked quite concerned at the idea.

"W-who's Fen?" She asked.

"She's one of the workers at the Deucalion, and a magnificat," Cadence replied.

"The chancellor and his family will be surprised when they see that magnificats aren't used as transportation in the free state," Lambeth said, "I was."

"Yeah, I just hope they don't say the wrong thing."

"Hey, you should come stay over at mine until councilor Corvid leaves," Hawthorn suggested.

"Chancellor Crow moron."

"Ooh, you can stay over as well!"

"I'd have to ask Jupiter if I could, but maybe?"

"Don't disrespect you father like that, call him dad!"

"W-what? He's not my dad!"

"He's not?"

"No!"

"Everyone, raise your hand if you thought Jupiter was Morrigan's dad!"

Everyone except Miss Cheery and Morrigan raised their hands.

"Cade, seriously?" Morrigan asked.

"Yeah, obviously he's your adopted dad!"

"I-he's not!" Morrigan protested.

"Are you sure about that Morrigan?" Miss Cheery asked, raising her hand.

"Well, I mean, he never actually adopted me so, yeah?"

"Well maybe not legally, but he is a father figure to you, yes?"

"I guess he kinda is."

"So he is your father, knew it!"

Hawthorne hi-fived Miss Cheery.

"You guys are morons," Cadence muttered.

"Anyway, are you going to ask Jupiter if you can come over?" Hawthorne asked excitedly.

"When I get home, I will."

"Cadence?"

"Yeah sure, I'll ask my mother."

Morrigan tuned out the conversations of her unit-mates—a skill she had learnt to tune out her Ivy's, or her father's constant criticism and complaints— and thought about what they had been saying. Jupiter was kind of like a father to her, and he was definitely more of one than Corvus ever had been. She smiled realized she didn't mind having Jupiter as her father.

Chapter Text

Morrigan:

Morrigan stepped into the Deucalion and smiled when she saw Jupiter and Jack playing cards in the lobby, Jack's eyepatch was up and both the witnesses were clearly trying to use their knack to cheat.

"Oh, hi Mog!" Jupiter called.

"Hi," Morrigan replied, walking over to the pair. "Who's winning?"

"Uncle Jove," Jack replied, Jupiter smiled.

"How was school?" Jupiter asked.

"Fun, Hawthorne said he would kidnap me and Cade if you didn't agree to let me stay at his," Morrigan said.

Jupiter laughed and put his cards down on the table. He shot a pointed look at Jack when he tried to glance at the cards.

"How very original," Jack said, looking at Jupiter who rolled his eyes.

"So, what do I have to agree in order to keep my title as chief Morrigan kidnapper?" Jupiter asked, all three of them laughed.

"He wants me to stay at his Corvus and that leave," Morrigan explained, looking at both Jupiter's and Jack's cards.

"How come she get's to look at your cards?" Jack protested.

"Because, she's not playing Jack."
Jack stuck his tongue out at them and placed his cards on the table next to Jupiter's.

"You guys are going to forget which cards are yours," Morrigan pointed out.

"Witnesses Mog, we can tell," Jupiter replied happily, "anyway, do you want to stay with Hawthorne and Cadence?"

"I don't know, it might be nice, but I don't want to be a burden for his family."

"Mog, you're not going to be a burden." Jupiter replied, "anyway, I wouldn't object to you staying with some friends for a while if you want to, it's up to you really."

"Yeah, might be for the best if you don't want to see your old family."

"Old family?"

"Obviously we're your new family moron."

"You're starting to sound like Hawthorne."

"Ew, no!" Jack said, gaging and pretending to throw up, Jupiter and Morrigan laughed. "You should stay at his if your going to say stuff like that!"

"I guess it'd be nice to stay with him and Cade," Morrigan decided.

"Well then, you should go pack," Jupiter pointed out.

"Yep see you later!" Morrigan agreed, walking quickly to her room.

"For the last time you stupid girl, where the hell is the owner of this thing!?" Morrigan heard someone demand, Morrigan quickened her pace to see who it was.

"Kedgeree might know and he's at the front desk?" Martha offered, "but I-I'm afraid I don't know where Captain North is."

"I demand to speak to the owner, now!" Corvus growled. He easily towered over Martha. Martha looked scared, Morrigan didn't blame her.

"I'm afraid I don't know where he is now, but he might be in the lobby," Martha replied.

"Not good enough," Ivy said.

"Ah, Miss Morrigan, do you know where Jupiter is?" Martha asked, spotting her.

Ivy and Corvus snapped their necks around to look at Morrigan, who grimaced.

"That can't be!" Ivy exclaimed.

"No, of course not, she's dead," Corvus agreed.

"Is there something wrong with Morrigan?" Martha asked, looking concerned.

"Don't say that name," Corvus growled.

"B-but that's her name?" Martha said, looking confused.

"Jupiter's in the lobby with Jack," Morrigan said, "you can go Martha."

Martha nodded and quietly walked away, still looking confused.

"You," Corvus began, walking towards Morrigan. "Should be dead."

"I'm very much alive," Morrigan replied defiantly.

"How dare you speak to your father like that?" Ivy scolded. Morrigan flinched, regretting her words already

Morrigan shrank back as they approached her, not even trying to contain their anger like they usually did in public.

"How are you still alive? I saw you die, you're a curse, you deserve to be dead!" Corvus questioned.

Morrigan felt tears appear in the corner of her eyes as panic slowly over took her. No, you're not a curse, remember what Jupiter said! She tried to reassure herself. It didn't work, she could feel her heart beating faster and her breath getting closer to hyperventilating.

"You deserve to be punished."

"No," Morrigan whispered.

"What was that curse?"

"No," Morrigan said, slightly louder.

Corvus kicked her, because he would never want to touch his child with his bare hand, lest he be cursed by her. His kick floored Morrigan, she cried out in pain. Corvus said something Morrigan didn't hear, but she doubted she wanted to hear it.

"Maybe I should make sure you actually die this time," Corvus said. He had never gone that far in Crow manor, never actually harmed her seriously enough that she would need medical care.

Corvus kicked her again, and pain exploded from her side, she cried out again, hoping that someone would hear her. There were no guests in the hallway to stop him (because despite what Jupiter had said, the hotel was actually very quiet today). The Deucalion suddenly brought up a wall between Morrigan and the Crows, separating them. Morrigan gasped, taking in deep breaths as she put a hand to her side. She tried, and failed to move, the pain forcing her to stay still.

"Mog!" Jupiter exclaimed, suddenly kneeling next to her.

"J-Jupiter?" Morrigan asked.

"Mog, what happened? Martha said the Crows were looking for me, and it had something to do with you, and then the hotel started going crazy at me, are you ok!?" Jupiter helped her lean against the newly created wall.

"I ran in to Corvus and Ivy," Morrigan muttered.

"And they hurt you?" Jupiter asked, sounding appalled.

"Y-yeah. I talked back to them, I deserved to get punished."

"No!" Jupiter said, his tone and expression turning serious in an instant. "You don't deserve to get hurt Mog, not by Ivy and Corvus, not by Squall, not by anyone, understand?"

"Y-yeah," Morrigan replied, wanting to get this conversation over with as soon as she could. "I-I know you said to stay away from them, but they were hassling Martha, and I wanted them to leave her alone, I'm sorry."

"You did the right thing Mog. Kedge is getting one of the guests who's a doctor to help you, and I'm going to deal with Corvus," Jupiter said.

"Hello Captain North, I was told you wanted me to look at someone?" The doctor asked, Morrigan though she looked pretty.

"Yes, doctor, this is Morrigan, one of our other 'guests' hurt her, could you please help her?" Jupiter asked, "I can pay, if you need."

"That's fine Captain, you are probably dealing with enough from this, you don't have to pay," the doctor replied, "Morrigan, could you try to stand up for me?"

Morrigan nodded slightly and, with the doctor's help, stood up, the pain intensified as she did so, but she'd dealt with worse. The doctor smiled and started leading her out of the corridor.

Jupiter:

"Deucalion, if you would," Jupiter asked. The wall disappeared in front of him, revealing Ivy and Corvus, looking shocked.

"What on Earth is wrong with this place?" Corvus demanded.

"No, what on Earth is wrong with you?" Jupiter retorted.

"Excuse you?" Ivy asked, looking offended.

"You fucking hurt Morrigan!"

"She's a curse, she was supposed to die on Eventide!"

"Morrigan is not a fucking curse! And I don't give a damn when you think she was supposed to die!"

"Well she is our chi-"

"She may be biologically Corvus' child, but I don't give a fuck! You don't deserve to have someone as amazing as Morrigan as a daughter!"

"Amazing? Ha, maybe she's amazing at being a burden and a curse."

"Say that one more fucking time, I dare you."

Jupiter walked towards Corvus who had the expression of someone who had never been told he was wrong in his life. He was opening and closing his mouth like a fish. Jupiter could see fear replacing the anger that had been clouding around his head.

Corvus growled and punched Jupiter in the nose, causing blood to spill from it. It hurt a lot and Jupiter guessed it was broken. Jupiter grabbed Corvus' other hand before it hit him as well and glared into Corvus' eyes, not reacting to the punch.

"Listen to me Corvus, you do not get to walk into my hotel and verbally abuse my staff, hit my candidate, or hit me, you will regret you behavior here and you will not be coming back here, so start packing your things and. Get. Out. Of. My. Hotel." In that moment, Jupiter didn't care what anyone thought of him kicking the Crows out, he would be damned if he was going to let their behavior go unpunished.

"You can't do that!" Corvus insisted, struggling to get his hand free.

"I believe you will find that I just did."

Jupiter let Corvus' hand go and watched as the Crows quickly ran away.

"Fuck I hate them!" He exclaimed.

One of the guests which had come down the corridor looked at Jupiter in confusion and concern, but continued on their way after a moment.

Jupiter walked to Morrigan's room, which was luckily close, despite the Deucalion's protests about him dealing with his possibly broken nose. He pushed open the door and waved to Morrigan, who looked shocked, and concerned.

"Hey Mog, hi doc, how's everything?" Jupiter asked.

"Captain, please lean forward and hold your nose, it is bleeding a considerable amount," the doctor instructed, barely glancing at the man.

"Psh, I'll be fine, is Mog ok?"

"Morrigan will have a large and painful bruise on her side, and a similar one on her stomach, but no bones were broken, and it should heal without complications," the doctor reported.

"By the way, what's your name?" Jupiter asked.

"Eliza Ren," Eliza replied, "now Captain, I believe your nose is broken, so if you would please try to stop the bleeding."

"Fine, fine," Jupiter agreed, following Eliza's instructions. "Corvus punches hard, how'd you deal with that?"

"He didn't punch me," Morrigan replied, "he would kick me. He said that he didn't want to touch me if he could help it."

"Fuck I want to punch that piece of shit!" Jupiter exclaimed. It had taken all of his self restraint to not throw him through a wall or similar, and now he was whishing he had just slightly less self control.

Morrigan:

Morrigan heard Corvus and Ivy complaining as they went down the hallway, Morrigan tensed and hoped they hadn't noticed which room was Morrigan's. Her breathing hitched as they stopped by her door.

"If that curse had just died when she was supposed to!" Corvus growled.

"Oh shut up Corvus, she was your daughter," Ornella scolded.

"No child of mine will be born on Eventide. That brat was a curse and certainly not my daughter," Corvus sneered.

Ornella scoffed and the Crows kept walking.

Morrigan let out the breath she had been holding. You're not a curse Morrigan, remember what Jupiter said. She told herself. Or are you? I mean, you're hardly good for anything. Her brain reminded her. She started to think about all the things she did wrong, all the mistakes she'd made. Why does Jupiter bother? She thought. He only saved you because Squall was after you, if Squall hadn't cared, Jupiter would've left you to die. She shook her head. No. That doesn't matter. She told herself. She pushed herself off the floor and winced at the pain the movement sent coursing through her body. Tomorrow's going to be interesting. She thought. Poor Anah's going to be worried sick.

Chapter Text

Morrigan:  

Morrigan waved to Hawthorne as he came running at her.  

"Morrigan!" Hawthorne called, "did you ask Jupiter? Did he say yes?" He seemed very excited.  

"Hi Hawthorne," Morrigan replied, "Jupiter said yes, and Jack told me I shouldn't come back."  

"What'd you do this time?" Cadence asked, appearing next to Morrigan.  

"I told him he sounded like Hawthorne," Morrigan replied, she noted that Cadence was also carrying a bag for Hawthorne's sleepover, she smiled. "How are both of you?"  

"Great! We're going to have a great time!" Hawthorne enthused.  

Hawthorne hugged Morrigan and Cadence, making the bruise on her side hurt, Morrigan made a slight noise of pain.  

"Sorry, I'm just really excited!" Hawthorne apologized, letting Morrigan step back.  

"I-it's not that Hawthorne," Morrigan replied, lifting her shirt slightly to examine the large bruise on her side, it looked worse than it had earlier in the morning.  

"Oh my goodness, Morrigan are you okay?!" Anah asked, running up to them.  

"I-I'm fine Anah," Morrigan assured her, hoping she didn't ask what happened.  

"What happened?" Well shit. Morrigan thought.  

"I um, I got into a bit of accident yesterday, nothing that bad, Jupiter had a doctor look at it," Morrigan half-lied, "you'd be more worried about Jupiter anyway, he broke his nose."  

"What?!" Anah asked, her voice wavering. "An accident? Are you hurt anywhere else, is Jupiter okay?"  

"It wasn't that serious, Jupiter took care of it, calm down Anah," Morrigan replied, she felt bad for making Anah worry.  

"Yeah, and he broke his nose! I-if he hadn't, would you have broken your nose?!" Anah seemed to be growing more anxious with every word Morrigan said.  

"I'm fine Anah, it's a small bruise, don't worry about it, and Jupiter's fine to!" Morrigan insisted even though the bruise she had wasn't very small, she didn't want to worry any of her friends.

Anah eventually left Morrigan alone, but she kept glancing at her every chance she got, and asked her if she was okay whenever it seemed Morrigan was in slight discomfort (and even sometimes when Anah had a free moment and it had been a while since she had last asked). Every time Morrigan said she was fine and that it didn't hurt. Sometimes, she wasn't lying.

"Are you two ready for the bestest sleepover in the history of sleepovers?" Hawthorne asked.  

"Yes, now hurry up and open the damn door!" Cadence growled.  

"Okay, okay," Hawthorne replied, putting his hand up.  

Hawthorne opened the door and pulled his friends into his room in excitement, he had found another mattress and placed it on a badly crafted bed frame that was above his own, there were things strewn all over his room and he had multiple posters of dragons and dragon related things, he had also decorated as there was a large banner that said, 'the bestest sleep over ever!'  

"Learn grammar moron," Cadence growled, "bestest isn't a word."  

"Yeah, it is!" Hawthorne replied, "it's in the dictionary!"  

"It is?" Cadence asked.  

"Yeah, it is!" Hawthorne insisted. Cadence sighed and shook her head. “Anyway, are you two excited?” Hawthorne asked, “also I claim top bunk!”  

“Sure,” Morrigan replied.  

“Yeah,” Cadence agreed.  

“Great, because we’re going to have a blast! And since the rest of my family is out right now, we get to eat all the snacks and no-one can complain!” Hawthorne suddenly ran off, presumably to raid every cupboard in the house.  

“He’s a moron,” Cadence commented.  

“He’s not THAT bad,” Morrigan replied.  

“You’re just a softie,” Cadence joked, punching Morrigan lightly in the arm, Morrigan giggled.  

“Nah, you’re just mean,” Morrigan countered.  

About ten minutes later Hawthorne came back holding so many snacks neither of the girls could even see his face.  

“Geez Hawthorne, we’re not feeding all of the unit a three-course meal of snacks,” Cadence said, looking up at the pile, her eyes widening slightly. “Where do you people even get all this food anyway?”  

“That’s a secret, anyway, I think this should be enough, I shouldn’t need to go into my secret stash.” Hawthorne flashed his best friends a cheeky grin once he’d placed the pile of snacks down in a corner. “So, what do you two want to do now?”

“Bed time kids,” Hawthorne’s mother said.  

“Kay,” Hawthorne replied, smiling mischievously.  

“Um Hawthorne,” Cadence began, “there are only two beds.”  

“Yep, you and Morrigan are sharing one!” Hawthorne replied. That explained his smile, Morrigan thought, her face reddened.  

“Hawthorne, I think I misheard you. Why are there only two beds?” Cadence growled, walking towards Hawthorne with a murderous look in her eyes.  

“I said, you and Morrigan are sharing a bed!”  

Cadence pinned him against the wall.  

“You,” she started, “are a moron.”  

And then she walked away to put on her pajamas.  

“You’re lucky she didn’t kill you,” Morrigan commented before walking off to do the same (in a different place of course).  

After they had all performed their evening routines they got into their beds.  

“I’m going to kill you in the morning,” Cadence stated, “but not now, I need my rest. And you’d better sleep Hawthorne.”  

Hawthorne giggled from the top bunk.

“Go to bed, please Hawthorne!” Hawthorne’s mother insisted, turning off the lights.  

“We’re not going to bed!” Hawthorne told his friends.  

“Hawthorne, it’s one am. Go to sleep!” Cadence growled, shoving her face into her pillow.  

“No! Morrigan, you should show us a cool wunder trick!” Hawthorne enthused.  

“I’d set your room on fire Hawthorne,” Morrigan reasoned.  

“Don’t do an inferno one then, come on, please!”  

“No, don’t, go to sleep!”  

Morrigan smiled.  

“If I did do a trick, I’d probably need to sleep after anyway, wunder takes a lot of your energy y’know.”  

“You guys are so boring!”  

“Yeah, sucks for you, now shut up and let me sleep!”  

Hawthorne frowned, but shut up. Cadence seemed satisfied and went to sleep. Morrigan stayed up the longest, she’d always had trouble sleeping in new places, but eventually she drifted to sleep.  

Chapter Text

Corvus:  

Corvus glared at the streets of Nevermoor, he already hated it here. Ivy hated it as well.  

“Did you see that Corvus, that magnificat was talking!” Ivy exclaimed.  

“I know dear, and animals are treated like people here, it’s insane!” Corvus agreed, “and the curse is here,” he added under his breath.  

“You’re right, what if Wolfram and Guntram are influenced by it!”  

“They won’t be. I won’t let that curse go near our children.”  

Ivy smiled. “Thank you Corvus," she said.  

“If we get our way then none of this will be happening here for much longer,” Corvus promised.  

“Come on! If you make us late, I’m never letting you come over again!” A voice announced from the next street over.  

“Oh no, that would be so sad,” another voice replied sarcastically.  

“Children here are so loud,” Ivy muttered.  

“I know dear,” Corvus agreed.  

A minute later a group of three children appeared, chatting happily among themselves. Ivy thought one of them looked too familiar.  

Morrigan:  

Morrigan noticed them instantly. The second she turned the corner she froze. Damn. She thought, she just hoped they wouldn’t notice her.  

“You okay Morrigan?” Hawthorne asked.  

“Mhm,” Morrigan replied, trying to force her legs to walk. “L-let’s just hurry,” she muttered, mainly to herself.  

“What’s wrong?” Cadence asked.  

“My parents,” Morrigan replied in a whisper.  

Hawthorne and Cadence looked around the area.  

“Who?” Cadence demanded.  

Morrigan pointed at Corvus, not trusting herself to speak.  

Cadence glared at the man.  

“Please don’t do anything,” Morrigan said.  

Cadence looked at her and her expression softened.  

“Okay,” she agreed.  

“Now let’s go before we’re late!” Hawthorne insisted, walking quickly to wherever he was leading the others.  

Cadence rolled her eyes and they walked after him.  

Hawthorne led them as far away from Corvus and Ivy as he could in the small area.  

“Children!” Corvus exclaimed. Morrigan froze. Shit.  

“Yes?” Hawthorne asked, feigning innocence.  

“Where is the Wunderous society?” Ivy asked.  

Hawthorne blinked at them a couple times.  

“What?”  

“The Wunderous society brat. Where is it?” Ivy demanded. Morrigan winced at her tone, a tone that she was all too farmiliar with.

“One second,” Hawthorne replied, turning to face his friends. “They’re going to Wunsoc?”  

“Apparently, it isn’t far, we could just tell them,” Morrigan offered nervously.

“Sure,” Hawthorne replied, a mischievous smile crossing his face. Morrigan gulped.  

“If you go down that street and take a left, then a right you should be there,” Hawthorne lied, “I hope you have the day you deserve Councillor.”  

“Chancellor,” Cadence corrected.  

“Yes, thank you,” Corvus replied, sounding a touch confused.  

“That’s the way to the dump, isn’t it?” Morrigan asked.  

“Yep, and I may have a little surprise from the garden party for them,” Hawthorne agreed smiling madly.  

Oh shit. Morrigan thought.  

Corvus:  

Corvus looked at the children in front of him in slight confusion, but brushed off their behaviour as a product of this strange town.  

“What are your names?” Ivy asked.  

“I’m Hawthorne, this is Cadence,” Hawthorne replied happily.  

“And the other one?” Corvus asked.  

Hawthorne simply stared up at him innocently.  

“Let’s go. We are already late.”  

Corvus and Ivy walked away and Hawthorne’s smile faded.  

“That’s Morrigan asshole,” he called after them.  

Corvus growled and quickened his pace.  

“They were so weird because the curse ruined them!” Ivy decided.  

“Definitely,” Corvus agreed.  

They followed the boy's instructions and frowned when they didn’t end up at Wunsoc, but instead a rubbish tip.  

“That little rat!” Ivy exclaimed, about to turn back, find the boy and yell at him.  

In that moment, Hawthorne’s plan sprang into action, drenching them in sticky green jelly.  

Corvus yelled in anger and everyone at the tip turned to look at him before bursting into laughter, only making his anger grow.  

“I am going to tear this city down,” he promised, clenching his fist and growling at the feeling of jelly squishing in his hand. “And I am going to kill those children, and that damned hotel owner as well!”  

Morrigan:  

Hawthorne cackled as he watched his plan unfold from his phone. Cadence seemed amused my it, but Morrigan winced at Corvus' reaction, she was nowhere near as pleased as Hawthorne had excpected.

“Seriously Hawthorne?!” Morrigan asked.  

“It was my idea this time, not Cadence’s!” He said happily.  

“They’re going to a meeting with politicians to hopefully end a war! This isn’t going to help anything!” Morrigan insisted.  

“I don’t care,” Hawthorne replied, “they made us late.”  

Morrigan groaned; she knew her friends meant well, and she was glad that they cared about her, but there were bigger things than her and her familial problems, like the war that they definitely weren't going to vote to end anymore.

Chapter Text

Morrigan:  

Morrigan had felt tears threatening to prick her eyes, she knew that she couldn’t stop them from spilling forever.  

“I erm need to go to the bathroom!” She announced, walking towards the public bathroom.  

“Okay,” Hawthorne agreed, turning his attention back to his phone.  

Morrigan ran into the bathroom. Her breathing grew irregular despite her best efforts to remain calm and she felt tears flow down her face.  

Cadence:  

Cadence frowned.  

“It’s been thirty minutes,” she pointed out.  

“Since what?” Hawthorne asked.  

“Since Morrigan went to the bathroom, I’m worried about her!” Cadence replied.  

“Oh yeah, that is kinda weird,” Hawthorne agreed.  

“I kinda wanna check on her,” Cadence admitted.  

“Then check on her,” Hawthorne replied.  

“Okay,” Cadence agreed.  

She walked into the bathroom and gasped at what she saw.  

“Jesus Morrigan!” Cadence exclaimed.  

Morrigan raised her head at the sound, her cheeks were red and puffy and she looked absolutely miserable. Cadence rushed over to her friend.  

Cadence racked her brain for what she was supposed to do.  

“Morrigan, um, breath with me, okay?” Cadence asked, hoping that this was the right thing to say.  

Morrigan:  

Someone was here. Morrigan couldn’t tell who, but there was someone. They were telling her to breath, she tried to listen. The voice seemed pleased.  

“Um, okay, Morrigan, can you open your eyes please?” The voice asked.  

How did the voice know her name? Morrigan wondered.

Morrigan opened her eyes and tried to blink away tears to see who it was talking to her. Cadence. She realized. Crap.  

“You’re safe, it’s all okay, just, um, calm down?” Cadence reassured her. Morrigan could tell that Cadence clearly had no idea what she was doing and she felt a pang of guilt. She shouldn’t have to deal with my problems. She thought. Just breath, be calm. For her. She commanded herself, trying to get herself to a state where she could tell Cadence she was fine.  

“H-hi,” Morrigan managed.  

“Hi,” Cadence replied, looking relieved.  

“I-I’m okay,” Morrigan lied.  

“That’s bull and we both know it. Now, what happened? Did someone hurt you because I swear to shit-”  

“No, nothing like that! I-it's just Corvus and that. It doesn’t matter, I’m fine now, don’t want to make us even later, let’s go!”  

Cadence sighed, but could tell that there was no point in arguing. She helped Morrigan up and they both went out to Hawthorne.  

“Hey guys-” Hawthorne began, “oh my god, Morrigan! Are you okay?”  

Morrigan groaned; she had hoped that he wouldn’t notice.

After that, they all went back to Hawthorne's house and drank hot chocolate and watched a move about dragons to take Morrigan's mind off what had happened and Morrigan was greatful that she had such great friends-even if they were absolute morons sometimes-.

Chapter Text

Jupiter: 

It was the Crow's last day in Nevermoor, and Jupiter was glad, but he also felt a pang of sympathy for Wolfram and Guntram. He had always thought that the twins would be treated well, being that they were not cursed, but it seemed as though he was wrong. 

"Hi Captain North!" Wolfram greeted happily. 

"Hello Wolf," Jupiter replied with a smile, "How are you and your brother today?" He asked. 

"Great!" Guntram replied. 

"That's good." Jupiter smiled at the children. Then an idea popped into his mind. "Hey Fen!" 

"What North?" Fenestra growled, appearing next to the group. 

"Could you watch the kids for a minute, I need to do something." 

Fenestra could tell based on the man's tone and the mischevious twinkle in his eyes that he was probably doing something highly illegal, but morally right. Fenestra nodded and Jupiter was off, bolting up the stairs to his study. 

Fenestra: 

The children looked at Fenestra with wide eyes and for a second, Fenestra thought they were scared of her. 

"Kitty!" Wolfram announced, getting closer to her, "pretty kitty!" Guntram laughed and joined his brother. 

Fenestra inwardly groaned; she had never been that good with little kids. 

"Actually I'm a magnificat," Fenestra corrected, "but thanks." 

"Magi- magi- magic-cat!" Guntram repeated. 

"Magic-cat!" Wolfram agreed, "do magic! Do magic!" He begged her. 

Fenestra frowned. 

"I can't do magic. I'm not a 'magic-cat', I'm a magnificat!" She growled, though the children couldn't hear her over their chant. Fenestra sighed and looked around the room. "Do you have any paper?" 

Wolfram ran over to the concierge desk and grabbed a large piece of paper. Fenestra hoped it wasn't anything important, but decided that even if it was, she didn't care. 

She unsheathed her claws (after making sure the twins were a safe distance away) and used them to make a line of children in the paper. 

"Pick it up," Fenestra instructed, hoping that would count as magic for the children. 

"Ooh! Look, look!" Wolfram exclaimed, watching as the paper-children unfolded. Guntram looked in awe at the children and Fenestra didn't need to be a witness to know the children were enjoying it. 

Ten minutes later, Jupiter came down the stairs an incredibly large smile on his face.

"Hey Fen, how are the kids?" He asked, bouncing on his feet, clearly anxious to tell Fenestra about whatever he had done.

"They're fine. What did you do North?" Fenestra asked, watching as Jupiter's smile got impossibly wider.

"Well... I did a very similar thing to what I did with Mog. Very useful, very illegal and um... Stole the other Crow kids!" He announced happily.

Charlie, Martha, and Kedgeree, who had been standing near enough to here the conversation all looked about as surprised as Fenestra felt.

"How did you manage that?" Kedgeree asked.

"Something highly illegal," Jupiter explained happily, "and the permission of the only adult crow that isn't a complete asshole, the children's grandmother!"

"Language, the children are right there!" Martha chided.

"If you bring one more child into this hotel with the intent of adopting them, I will stuff sardines into your pillows!" Fenestra growled.

"Geese, calm down Fen, I'm not trying to make a habit out of it," Jupiter replied.

"Mr. Captain!" Wolfram greeted appearing next to the adults with his brother.

"Hey Kids, how would you two feel about staying here a while longer?" Jupiter asked, kneeling down next to the children.

"But we gotta go?" Guntram replied, sounding confused.

"Do you though?" Jupiter repeated.

"What?" Wolfram asked, looking just as confused as his brother. Fenestra sighed, wishing that Jupiter would be less cryptic sometimes.

"If you didn't have to, would you want to stay here?" Jupiter clarified.

Wolfram's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Yeah!" He announced.

"Well then. I have a surprise for you," Jupiter announced, smiling madly again.

"Do we get to stay?" Wolfram asked.

"Yes you do."

The children's eyes lit up with joy.

"YAY!" They announced in unison.

Jupiter:

"What do you think Mog's gonna think?" Jupiter asked, holding an ice-pack to his face.

"About her siblings, or about you getting punched by Corvus again?" Jack retorted.

"Her siblings Jack!" Jupiter replied, "and you're not to mention how I got this. As far as she is concerned I fell down the stairs."

"Yeah, yeah. Fell down the stairs onto Corvus' fist. But I reckon she'll be fine with it," Jack replied, "should I text her and let her know that the others went home?"

"Jack! Stop it!" Jupiter chastised him, "but you can tell her if you want, just make sure to tell her about Wolf and Gun as well."

"Yeah, yeah. Will do."

'The Crows are gone, but uncle Jove kidnapped your siblings.'

Jack informed Morrigan.

'He what?"

Morrigan asked.

'He kidnapped Wolfram and Guntram, same as he did with you, except he actually told Corvus he was taking his children this time.'

Jack elaborated.

"What are you going to tell the twins?" Jack asked.

"That they have a big sister probably," Jupiter replied casually.

"And how are they supposed to react to that?" Fenestra asked.

"They're three, I trust they'll react fine," Jupiter replied.

Chapter Text

"Hey Mog!" Jupiter greeted, taking her bags.

"Hey," Morrigan repeated, looking around the hotel with a slight smile.

"Captain North!" Wolfram called, running up to him.

Morrigan looked at Wolfram in shock; she had known he would be there, but it felt strange seeing him in the flesh. Guntram ran up behind his brother and smiled.

"Who's that?" He asked, pointing to Morrigan.

"That's Morrigan," Jupiter replied, "she's your big sister."

The twins looked at Morrigan in surprise. They smiled at her.

"We have a sister!" Wolfram yelled, "cool!"

"Hello Morrigan!" Guntram greeted.

"H-hi," Morrigan replied, smiling.

Jupiter smiled.

"I'll be in my study if any of you need me."

-

"Let's play!" Wolfam enthused. Guntram nodded excitedly.

"What do you want to play?" Morrigan asked.

"Magic!" Wolfram replied.

Morrigan frowned.

"Magic?" She asked.

"Captain North can see stuff," Guntram began, "so show us what you can do!"

Morrigan considered it for a minute before nodding.

"Okay, but stand back," Morrigan instructed.

Morriagn summoned wunder and carefully summoned fire to swirl around her without going to close to the twins who gasped in surprise and amusement.

"Wow," Guntram murmured.

"Yeah," Wolfram agreed, trying to grab one of the sparks.

"Don't touch it!" Morrigan instructed, making the flames disappear.

"Aww," the twins replied in unison.

"Hey guys," Jupiter greeted, "how are you all getting along?"

"Great!" Wolfram informed him. Jupiter smiled.

"Well, it's dinner time," Jupiter reported, "come on!"

The twins smiled and ran ahead of Jupiter and Morrigan.

"You been having a good time with your brothers?" Jupiter asked.

"Yeah, they're great," Morrigan agreed, "though, you could've told Corvus without getting punched."

Morrigan gestured to Jupiter's face. Jupiter's expression turned annoyed.

"I told Jack not to say anything!" Jupiter exclaimed.

"He didn't," Morrigan replied, "Wolfram did."

Jupiter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I suppose it couldn't've been helped," he reasoned.

"I was the one that asked," Morrigan admitted.

"Well, next time I steal one of his kids, I'll make sure to tell him at a distance where I can't get punched," Jupiter joked.

"Please don't kidnap anymore children," Morrigan said.

"I was joking, Mog! I'm not planning on kidnapping anyone else!"

-

Morrigan smiled through dinner, warmth spreading through her. She had seen her brothers on the gossamer and felt a longing to be part of their life and now she could be. Part of her hoped this wouldn't lead to something bad, but she was glad they would get to experience the wonders of Nevermoor.