A/N: Look little oneshot I came up with. Enjoy and review :)

Ethel's Real Mum

Ethel was sat on her bed with her eyes closed slightly as the brush ran through her blonde locks of hair. Esmie was brushing it and it was always better when someone else played with your hair. The girl loved the feel of it and sat straight to make it easier. She was glad she had a sister to do this for her. Since Esmie had gotten her powers back and returned to school Ethel was much nicer to her and liked to spend time with her.

"I love your hair" Esmerelda commented as she brushed it gently knowing it calmed Ethie. She smiled and stroked Nightstar who pushed her head into her before she noticed the time.

"Oh flying broomsticks, HB will be doing the rounds, we better get to bed" Esmerelda told her sister as she put the brush on the bedside table and Ethel crawled under her covers into bed. Esmerelda tucked her in, pulling the covers over her, kissing her forehead, even though she knew HB could catch her. She didn't really care, she had not finished saying goodnight to her yet.

"Night Ethie" Esmerelda said turning around to walk out of Ethel's bedroom door.

Ethel was tired and was already starting to drift of and because of this she was not entirely thinking about what she was saying or who she was talking too. She snuggled under the covers more before she replied.

"Night mum" she said without thinking, forgetting she was talking to Esmerelda.

Esmerelda paused with her hand on the door as what Ethel said hit her, she really thought she must have misheard, that is until she turned to look at Ethel and saw the horrified look on her face at what she had just called her.

"I am so sorry...that just slipped out..." Ethel said no longer sleepy but wide awake and horrified at what she had just called Esmerelda. It was not that she was horrified because she had called her mum, as after all she was much more of a mother to her than their own mother but she knew it would horrify Esmerelda.

Esmerelda was just staring at Ethel like she had just told her she had a boyfriend and had kissed him, Ethel gulped at that, hoping her sister was not mad at her.

"Sorry..." Ethel said lowering her head.

Out of nowhere Esmerelda's face crumbled and she started to cry softly. Esmerelda was not one to cry, she never cried at anything really not even when she had lost her powers she had managed to hold in her tears, so Ethel seeing her sister cry started her off, she was angry at herself for upsetting her when they had being having such a sweet time together.

"I really am sorry, I didn't mean it, it was a mistake, please don't cry" Ethel said crying herself.

They both looked a right sight both standing in a dark bedroom at nine in the evening crying to themselves, if anyone walked past now they would probably think they had lost it. Ethel was not normally one to say sorry but right now she just kept saying it unable to find herself saying anything else. After a few minutes of them both just crying Esmerelda pulled herself together and stopped crying, just sniffling instead.

"You can stop apologising now" Esmerelda told her and the girl nodded looking at the floor ashamed.

"I really didn't mean it…." Ethel said with a sigh "I don't want you to be sad" Ethel told her sister. It honestly hurt her seeing Esmie so upset, it wasn't normal.

Esmerelda used her sleeve to wipe her eyes before she bent down so she was at Ethel's height as she was sat down now looking at the floor. She could not believe Ethel thought she was upset, maybe she thought it would upset her as she is not her mother.

"I am not upset Ethie, I was crying because I was touched, I know I am not your mother but sometimes it feels like I am" Esmerelda admitted, She did a lot for her sisters and they were closer than normal sisters, sometimes it really did feel like she was their mother. Ethel wiped her eyes too and smiled at her. So Esmie was not upset? That was a relief.

"You are a really good surrogate mum you know" Ethel told her.

"I am glad you think like that Ethie" Esmerelda told her beaming.

"Well it is true, you are the best" Ethel told her and Esmerelda hugged her then. Ethel wrapped her arms around her letting her eyes drift close. She realised then she was so stupid. Why had she being bothering with her real mother for so long when the woman never did anything for her and only ever made her upset? She didn't care and Ethel knew it but a tiny bit of her was just hoping she would one day decide to love her but it was becoming more and more unlikely. Ethel promised in that moment to try not care so much and just focus on the people who have always being their for her.

"Seriously though Esmie what would I do without you? You are my real mum, and my sister and my best friend all in one" Ethel told her beaming into her back.

"Don't, you will start me off again" Esmerelda told her already feeling teary. Her heart swelled with happiness at this and the girls were just hugging when someone shouted.

"What on earth!?" HB shouted. The girls let go of each other and gasped.

"What is going on here?" Hardbroom asked them and Ethel smiled hugely before she replied.

"Sorry miss, we were just celebrating mother's day, Happy Mother's Day Esmie" Ethel told her smiling at her. She only remembered then it was mother's day, "what a perfect time to slip up". She told herself.

Esmerelda might have had tears streaming down her face again but Hecate stood there like Ethel had finally lost her mind.

"Right well….it is time to go to bed now" Hecate said not knowing how to respond to Ethel's comment.

"Sorry miss, goodnight Ethie sleep tight" Esmerelda said giving her one last hug before leaving at the look Hecate gave her.

Esmerelda got into bed that night her heart full of absolute happiness at what Ethel had said and she knew they had turned a corner, maybe Ethel was learning their real mother was a waste of space and maybe start to accept her love because even if she was not her real mother she was the one who will be there for her forever more.