"You can't build your nest there!" The magpie cawed back at her and continued to weave a stick into her creation.

"Azura! Get down from there! It's their mother!" Rouge watched helplessly as her familiar continued to build her nest in the Mother of the men who were helping her so much. Amaranth's tree swayed slightly in the breeze, its leaves rustling and casting shadows on the silver-grey bark.

"Azura!" Rouge turned sharply at the sound of Cassiel laughing behind her.

"She's fine, don't worry about it. Mum would enjoy her being there. She used to love birds raising their young in her branches when she was still with us." He walked past her and placed his hand against her trunk for a few moments.

"She's still in there, she'll enjoy the company." His voice held a sadness as he crouched beside the huge container the tree sat in. The spring flowers that carpeted the soil around the tree's roots were beginning to wilt. He placed a hand on them and waited quietly.

"You ok?" Rouge moved to crouch beside him.

"Yeah, it just takes me a while to revive them. My mother didn't even have to touch a plant, she just walked past them and they sprang back to life instantly. But I'm only half nymph so it takes me a while." The witch watched as slowly the blooms began to come back to life and their colours became vibrant again.

"That was amazing, they are so beautiful."

"He's a clever one, my boy." Rouge stiffened and tried to hide her face under her hair as Cassiel jumped up from his crouch. Dita rolled her eyes, her tone bored.

"You're wasting your time witch. I knew who you were in Annies, I just don't care enough to tell anyone. It would upset Cassiel too much if I did." Rouge stood up slowly eyeing the demoness warily. Cassiel put a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"It's ok Rouge, she won't tell anyone you're here. I've known Dita for decades, she won't betray us." Dita winked at him as her tail swished behind her.

"Any chance I can draw you away from your plants?" He gave her one of his charismatic smiles, his green eyes sparkling.

"I could be tempted." He glanced at Rouge then crossing the grass to join her he placed his arm around her waist and whispered something in her pointed ear. Rouge watched as they walked away giggling to each other, it was Dita she was watching the most in her skin-tight red leather dress that barely covered her backside. She noticed her deep ebony skin had a gold shimmer in the sunlight and her gold-tipped hair sparkled. Everything about the demoness from her gold-hoofed feet to the mass of curls on her head screamed dangerous and sexy. While Rouge wore the big cumbersome dresses the mortals wore and spent all her time hiding, she knew everything about her screamed I'm scared, please don't see me. The demoness was everything Rouge wasn't, everything she couldn't be because she was powerless and in danger. Maybe if she had been dangerous and sexy like Dita Raphael might have been more beguiled by her and couldn't have run from her. She looked sadly down at the beautiful spring blooms in the tree's container. Cassiel wasn't even in love with the demoness, although she clearly loved him, and he was more drawn to Dita than Raphael was to her. A caw above her head drew her attention, she looked up at her feathered friend and smiled sadly.

"I'm fine, just thinking." the bird cawed again and Rouge looked round to see Winston approaching carrying two wooden swords as children would play with.

"Miss Rouge, I have been looking for you." She eyed the swords then smiled at the dwarf.

"I'm afraid I never learnt swordplay if you were hoping for a match." Clearing his throat he held them up.

"When the Masters were boys I tort each of them and their sister sword skills with these swords. I was wondering if you wished to learn also?"

"Me?" Rouge was shocked, witches didn't learn to fight it was unseemly.

"Yes Miss, I am aware it is unconventional. But I was putting away Miss Dita's sword in the coat cupboard and I was considering how skilled the lady is. You're often in danger with no way to defend yourself due to your limited powers. I thought perhaps..." He trailed off at her completely stunned expression. "It was just a thought Miss, I shall return the swords to the nursery."

"No Winston, don't" her thoughts went back to the strong, confident, beautiful demoness "it's a brilliant idea. It never crossed my mind because witches just don't learn to fight. Not even wizards do. But I would appreciate your trying to teach me. Although I can't guarantee how good I'll be at it."

"Even if you never become a master Miss, you will at least stand a better chance of defending yourself." She beamed at the kindly dwarf and hugged him.

"Thank you, Winston." Placing a kiss on his bristly cheek she had to stop herself from laughing when she noticed he had turned a vivid shade of scarlet.

"You... You're more than welcome Miss." He said as he cleared his throat in a flustered manner.

***

Gabriel looked up from his desk and frowned as he listened, crossing to the window he watched as Rouge lunged at Winston with a wooden sword. He stepped aside effortlessly as she barreled past him. Missing her mark completely she stumbled forward onto her knees tripping over her skirts and sliding in the dirt in a cloud of petticoats. The dwarf offered her his hand and pulled her back to her feet. The Vampire watched remembering his own sword fighting lessons with the dwarf when he'd been a boy. His mother had once told him that the forest they lived in before his father stole her tree had been home to Amazons and it was them that had trained Winston to fight. The dwarf was, as was typical of him whenever it concerned his life with their mother, stoic about it.

He watched as again Rouge tripped over her skirt and went into the dirt. Frowning to himself he left his office and headed for their mother's bedroom. It was how she'd left it minus a few items they'd moved. Winston kept it pristine without a speck of dust or cobweb to be seen. The emerald green walls were starting to look a little faded and the white drapes were a little yellowed. All her many plants still thrived, telling him Cassiel spent a lot of time in here. Crossing the room he opened the wardrobe door to be assaulted with the scent of mothballs. Her clothes were all hung and pressed as if she might come in and dress for dinner at any moment. Feeling a lump in his throat he located what he'd been looking for and removing it from its hanger folded it neatly over his arm before closing the wardrobe again and leaving the room.

***

Rouge sat in an undignified heap on the floor laughing at herself as Winston offered her his hand.

"I'm more likely to break my neck falling over my own skirt than anyone getting near me with a sword." She stood up, dusting off her grass-stained hands as Winston picked up her wooden sword.

"Maybe this might help." Both the witch and dwarf spun round at Gabriel's voice.

"I didn't mean to startle you both. I saw you training from my office." He gestured behind him "I thought maybe these might help. My mother wore them for riding." Confused Rouge glanced at Winston then took the proffered brown cotton clothing. Holding the waistband she let them hang down and frowned. Realising what he'd given her, a smile spread across her face. It was like men's trousers only with very baggy legs so it looked similar to a skirt. Brown buttons ran from the waist to the hem on each leg and green vines with little white flowers were embroidered along the hems and up the outside of each leg.

"Oh Gabriel, they are lovely, but I can't wear these, they were your mother's." He gave her a small smile.

"She won't need them again and she'd be glad to know someone else was getting use from them." With that, he gave her a little bow and left her and Winston alone.

"Should I really wear them? They would be easier to move in."

"Master Gabriel is right. My Mistress would be glad to know they are of help and they will be easier for you to manoeuvre in." The wind whistled through Amaranth's tree as he spoke, if they didn't know any better both could have sworn it sounded like a woman laughing happily in the distance. Both looked up at the tree but neither spoke as Azura flew off above their heads in search of more twigs.

***

Rouge held out the wide-legged skirt-like trousers to the seamstress and in perfect French asked if she could make more of them in other colours and fabrics. The woman took them and studied them for a moment before saying she could and gesturing to the huge array of fabrics and asking which the lady would like them made in. Rouge loved the trousers. They were so much easier to move in, not just for fighting but every day. Moving about the store the two women spoke in French as they discussed the different fabrics and options.

She finally ordered six pairs and shirts to match in a mix of velvets, taffetas and cotton. Some would be fancy with lace and bows and pearl buttons. Others were to be plainer for more casual wear. She handed over some coins to the human and took her receipt before confirming how long they would take and leaving the store. Deciding she couldn't come to Paris without picking up some bread, cheese and wine for Winston and herself she pulled her hood low over her face and headed for her favourite bakery.