How to Make a Miracle

Epilogue

When Luz next woke, she was on the couch, the fluffy blanket wrapped tight around her; she hadn't remembered it, but she must have moved sometime during the night-- or somebody had moved her. The smell of something nice being cooked in the kitchen, as well as the clatter of dishes, woke her from her slumber. Luz got up and wandered in.

"Oh, good, you're up," Eda called, as she stirred a pan crackling with what looked like bacon. King was at the table, gnawing on a muffin.

"I was about to wake you up myself. You have a little surprise coming, it should be any time now--"

"HOOT HOOT, WE HAVE VISITORS," Hooty's shrill voice called from the living room. Shocked, Luz glanced at Eda, a question in her eyes. Eda just grinned and told her,

"Well, go on, don't be rude, go welcome your guests."

Luz rushed into the living room, gaping as she saw the door swing open. Willow, Gus, and Amity were all there, carrying wrapped gifts.

"Wh-what? How? What? How . . ." Luz repeated, her mind blown.

"Happy Christmas, Luz," Willow said, coming over to give her a hug.

"Or, wait, was it 'Merry' Christmas? Sorry, I keep forgetting that."

"You're gonna love your present," Gus announced proudly, brandishing a strangely-shaped gift,

"According to my research, humans love these."

"Thanks for inviting us, Luz," Amity chimed in, also giving Luz a hug. Everyone was smiling, like they all knew something Luz did not.

"Don't take this the wrong way guys because I love that you're all here but what the heck is going on?!" Luz demanded, gesturing dramatically.

"Did the storm actually stop overnight?! How did the snow even get a chance to melt that fast??"

Moving to stare out the window, she couldn't really tell. Willow giggled and Amity explained,

"The Emperor's Coven sent more Abominations out to do more snow plowing last night, apparently. The roads they managed to clear made it possible for us to come visit."

"Wha . . ." Luz said, blinking. Snow plowing? It must have been in the dead of night, after they'd gotten back home?

"It was actually kinda weird," Willow added on,

"The roads they chose to plow seemed kind of random. For some reason, they just happened to be roads that led from our houses up to the Owl House!"

Gus narrowed his eyes and asked seriously,

"Luz, be honest, do you have somebody secretly helping you out in the Emperor's Coven or something?"

Luz gasped,

"Hunter!"

Her friends looked puzzled. Amity asked,

"Huh? Wait, what? The Golden Guard?"

"Gimme just a second," Luz said, turning to rush back to the kitchen. When she got there, she asked urgently,

"Eda, is Hunter gone?"

The older witch smiled lightly as she scooped up bacon to put on a plate.

"Afraid so. I told 'em he was free to stay the night, but he said he had to leave. Somethin' about needing to reschedule a couple Abomination shifts."

Luz stood there, absorbing the information. So it really was him.

Returning to the living room, she looked at all her friends, putting gifts under the tree, talking and laughing.

Luz smiled softly, her heart warm.

"Thank you, Hunter," she said quietly.