• Chapter 9: Human
    The next morning I woke up to the sun shining in my eyes; I leaped out of bed and over to my window, stumbling on my shoes which were scattered across the floor. I opened my window and let the sunlight pour into my room.
    The fresh morning air was cool and crisp. The aroma of the variety of flowers that filled the meadow danced on the breeze. The sunlight warmed my skin; it felt nice. I was relieved that there was no more rain.
    I quickly got dressed putting on a pair of khaki shorts and a blue T-shirt. I brushed my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail and then rushed out the door.
    Down in the dinning room everyone sat waiting for me so they could begin to eat. “Good morning everyone.” I replied, wearing a smile almost as bright as Ambrose’s.
    They all smiled. “Morning.” They answered.
    I took my seat which was by Ambrose and Melody and across from Annalise and Tobias. Then we all began to eat, “How are you feeling?” Ambrose asked.
    “Good.” I said in between bites. “Oh! It’s such a nice day! Thank goodness it’s finished raining!”
    “It is a nice day isn’t.”Roy said.
    I nodded.
    “Ah! Why don’t we do something?” Ambrose proposed.
    “Yeah!” Tobias shouted.
    “Oh but what should we do?” Annalise questioned.
    “A picnic!” Melody shrieked happily.
    “That sounds lovely! Is everyone ok with that?” Ambrose asked.
    We all nodded in agreement. Suddenly I heard someone sigh, I glanced into the living room to see Aidan; he looked depressed and gloomy as well as all alone. I thought my heart just cracked into; I didn’t like seeing him like this all alone and sad.
    “Ambrose.” I said.
    He looked at me; he was just about to bit into a piece of toast that was covered in jam. Ambrose gracefully placed the bread onto his plate. “Yes?” He asked.
    Did I detect a hint of worry in his voice? Probably so, he was still a little worked up about yesterday’s mishap; he was a little bit if a drama queen.
    Ambrose pouted at me and I couldn’t help but laugh; a grin was on my face. “Yes, what did you want to ask me?” He questioned.
    “Can we do something for Aidan? He seems so down. Can’t we turn him into a human for the day? Like Melody did with him yesterday?” I asked.
    Ambrose smiled. “That’s a marvelous idea!”He shouted. “Melody, can you come with me for a moment?”
    Melody perked up, a smile on her perfect face. “Yes!” She exclaimed, jumping up from her chair. She suddenly appeared on Ambrose’s shoulders. They went into the living room.
    I sat there waiting patiently with Roy, Annalise, and Tobias at my sides. It felt like we were waiting an eternity!
    Finally Ambrose returned; Melody still sat on his shoulders wearing her famous carefree smile. “Lay’s and gentlemen! I am proud to announce the new Aidan!” Ambrose exclaimed, stepping aside out of the doorway. “Now Aidan, you do realize that this spell will wear out; you have until the sun is at its highest in sky then you will turn back.”
    Aidan nodded and then he walked into the kitchen, my mouth nearly dropped. Aidan was once again human but he was more beautiful then before! His skin was as pale as a fish’s belly and was so lovely. His hair was a lovely shade of brown. And his eyes were a sky blue color.
    “Hello everyone.” He replied taking a seat beside Tobias.
    “Um hi Aidan. How do you feel?” I asked.
    Aidan smiled. “Good! And you?”
    “I’m fine. Would you like some breakfast?” I questioned.
    “Oh yes please!” He said.
    I smiled. I got a plate and began to prepare him some food. I then handed Aidan the plate and a fork.
    “Thank you Rosette.” Aidan replied, still grinning. The way he eyed the food I was sure I would see a river follow from his mouth.
    He began to eat as Ambrose sat back down; Melody sat on his knee.
    “Did I do good?” Ambrose whispered.
    “Yes. He looks very happy.” I said softly before I placed a kiss on his cheek.
    “What about me? I helped Uncle Ambrose.” Melody said.
    “You did very good, Melody.” I replied, kissing her on her forehead.
    Melody giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck.
    “Melody. Annalise, do you want to help me prepare our lunch for the picnic?” I asked standing up from my seat.
    “Yes!” They exclaimed.
    “I want to help too, Rosette.” Tobias said.
    I smiled. “Ok come on.” I replied.
    We walked out of the room in search of a picnic basket and a blanket. I searched in the hall closet upstairs and had no luck. Tobias, Annalise, and Melody were looking downstairs.
    “Rosette, are you looking for this?”
    I turned around to see Ambrose standing behind me holding a picnic basket in his hands. A smile on his lips.
    When did he come up stairs? I never even heard him. Ambrose’s smile widened. “Yes thanks.” I replied, taking the basket from him.
    The sound of footsteps came running up the stairs; I almost thought Melody had conjured up a herd of elephants. Tobias, Annalise and Melody rushed up the stairs, all holding a corner of a red and white checkered blanket.
    “We found a blanket!” Melody smiled.
    “Yeah! So are you ready to make the food?” Tobias questioned.
    I smiled and couldn’t help but laugh at their eagerness. “Yes, come on let’s go to the kitchen.” I said, taking Melody by the hand and we went downstairs.
    Roy and Aidan were now in the living room so we had the kitchen all to our selves. I grabbed a loft of bread while Annalise and Melody got out a variety of luncheon meats; Tobias got some cheese and some plates. We fixed a mountain of sandwiches and then with the help of Ambrose we whipped up a few cakes for desert. I made a pitcher of lemonade and sat it on the table; Annalise, Tobias, and Melody loaded all the food into the basket.
    “Thanks for your help!” I thanked.
    The trio of children quickly spun around, grinning their perfect smiles. “Your welcome Rosette!” They replied in unison.
    Ambrose entered the kitchen again and picked up the picnic basket; “Are we ready?” He questioned.
    “Yes.” I said, grabbing the blanket which I had folded earlier as well as the pitcher.
    Ambrose smiled. “Excellent, I can’t wait to consume this wonderful feast all of you have prepared for us.” He replied, kissing me on the cheek.
    I glared at him crossing my arms as I did so; I hated how he could be so flattering yet be sarcastic at the same time. Ambrose grinned.
    I rolled my eyes and walked past him with Annalise, Melody, and Tobias right behind me. Roy and Aidan were standing and ready to leave. Roy opened the door for us and then our group left the house and outside into the meadow.
    We stopped right beside the crystal creek that over looked my cottage. I spread the blanket out and then we all sat down and pulled out our feast that laid in the basket. We talked and laughed as we ate. I liked this; this really was a good idea. I loved being close to all of them, they were my family.
    After desert Tobias, Annalise, and Melody began a game of tag; soon Roy and Aidan had joined them while Ambrose and I were laying in the soft, green grass gazing up at a cloudless sky.
    I smiled. “You really did do a good thing, Ambrose.” I said, hearing their laughter fill the air. Aidan was so happy; I would be too if I were a fire demon forever stuck in a fireplace!
    Ambrose’s eyes were closed as he lay in the grass beside me. “What do you mean?” He asked, never opening his eyes.
    I looked over at him, “Turning Aidan human, stupid! It was really nice of you to do that.”
    “It was your idea all I did was do the magic.”Ambrose replied.
    “Yeah but still…look at how happy his is! I’ve never seen him like that before.” I said.
    Ambrose looked over at me and kissed me on my forehead. “I’m not taking credit for it. It was your idea.” He said, winking then he closed his eyes again and laid back down.
    Ambrose knew something that I didn’t; I didn’t like the way he winked at me. I heard Ambrose chuckle as he hear my thoughts; a smirk was written on his face.
    “What’s so funny? Your hiding something from me!” I snapped. He just continued to smirk.
    “Um Rosette.”
    I looked up to see Aidan; he sat down beside me. “Hi Aidan.” I replied, sitting up, I glared at Ambrose then looked back at Aidan.
    “I know it was your idea to have changed me like this and so I-I wanted thank you.”He said.
    “No problem, Aidan. “ I said.
    Aidan suddenly took my hands in his and then he planted a kiss right on my fingers. I gazed at him shocked. W-Was Aidan in love with me? I quickly jerked my hands away and moved back a little in the grass; I hit something hard like a stone wall. I gazed back to see what I had hit was Ambrose’s chest and that he was now sitting up.
    Abruptly I thought of what had happened yesterday and what Ambrose had whispered in my ear; “I don’t like to see other men touching you.” I turned towards Ambrose.
    “Ambrose! Um it’s not what it looks like!” I exclaimed.
    Ambrose just sat there gazing at Aidan; a smile formed on his lips and then he began to laugh. I just stared at him. What just happened? Yesterday he looked as if he would kill someone if they touched me and today when Aidan kissed me, he just sits there and laughs? Did Ambrose finally lose his mind?
    “No! I have not lost my mind and never intend too! Why would you think such a horrible thing, Rosette?” Ambrose suddenly snapped.
    I gazed at him again; I was confused. “Y-Your not angry?” There was so much that I wanted to say but I wasn’t able to.
    Ambrose smiled again. “Heavens no! Why would I be?” He asked.
    “B-But yesterday you told me that you didn’t like to see other men touching me!” I shouted, confusion filled my voice.
    “Yes, yes I know what I said but Aidan is not a man; he is my heart! Of course he loves you!” Ambrose exclaimed, with another laugh.
    Duh! Had I forgotten that Aidan was Ambrose’s heart? That Aidan was a small fire demon and not a human man. I tried to hold back my laughter but filled. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself for being such an idiot!
    “Don’t blame yourself Rosette. Melody and I did do a convincing job, didn’t we?” Ambrose said.
    “Yes. Very convincing.” I replied.
    “Oh No!” Aidan suddenly shouted.
    Ambrose and I turned towards him to see that he was glowing; I gazed up at the sky to see the sun was high in the sky. This was when the spell was supposed to wear out; this was when Aidan would turn back into a fire demon.
    I couldn’t help but get teary eyed; he looked so happy in this human form that Ambrose and Melody had created for him and now it was all over.
    Slowly Aidan began to transform back into the small flame that was Ambrose’s heart; my love’s heart. Ambrose capped his hands together and caught the little flame of fire.
    “Thank you Ambrose.” Aidan replied, the fire looked weak. “Oh! I am tired! May we go back to the house?”
    Ambrose smiled down at his heart. “Of course my dear friend.” He said.
    Roy, Annalise, Tobias, and Melody finished their game and began to help me clean up while Ambrose and Aidan walked back to the house. I gazed at them and smiled; the wizard and his heart.
    I couldn’t help but keep my smile as I thought of how happy Aidan had become; we had made his wish come true. Being a human.