In some ways, things returned to normal.

In other ways, they didn't.

Since Baltor had been partially responsible for shutting the Trix down and saving the universe, the Magix Council (with a bit of reluctance) dropped the previous charges to weigh things out. They did warn him extensively however, that if he ever headed back on the wrong path, they'd seal him in the Omega Dimension before he could blink. Tori had sat in the stands of the courtroom as this happened, watching her father nod in seriousness, but when he turned to look at her that familiar smirk flashed across his face, and she knew it was a show.

Bloom was formally asked to return and take her place as the Queen of Sparx. Apparently after saving the world again, the Magix Council thought it would be nice to have her around. Tori's mother; her smart, cheeky, quick on her feet mother, told the court she would gladly return, on one condition. Baltor would take the throne with her as the King of Sparx.

Tori's grandparents had been less than thrilled with that idea. The twins had heard their mother arguing with them for a long time behind closed doors before Baltor caught them and drew them away. Later Bloom had come back, looking steamed, and told them they were leaving Sparx. Tori hadn't even gotten the chance to meet them, but based on the yelling, she was fairly certain she wouldn't have gotten along well with Oritel and Miriam, anyway.

Since ruling a planet was out, Bloom decided it was best to go back to Earth. At first it was weird to have a fourth presence in their house (and a presence that knew very little about Earth culture), but in time it was odd to imagine life without him. During the middle of July, Tori and Valen stayed with Roxy and Andy for a few days while their parents went off to God-only-knew-where for some much needed alone time fifteen years in the making. They didn't know what exactly happened during those few days, only that Bloom and Baltor came back smiling. And with a marriage certificate.

Summer ended, and despite being offered full scholarships to Alfea and Red Fountain, Tori and Valen decided to stay on Earth. Their parents helped with magic training, and slowly but surely both Tori and Valen saw results. Bloom continued to paint, and Baltor did less…legal things, to find some extra money. Life was good.

And then Jason Albright decided to shock them even more.

"I really can't believe they asked us back," Tori said absently as she adjusted the microphone on her ear.

Jason laughed. "Me either. After the last incident, I thought it'd be a miracle if we could even get back on Disney property, let alone play. But apparently we were so good, they wanted to give us another chance."

"I think it'd debatable since they wanted us to play the opening of Cars' Land. I look ridiculous." Valen said, glancing at his white wash jeans and black T-shirt, the British flag on the chest.

"Stop it. It was really nice of them to give us a second chance."

Valen just shook his head. "Poor bastards. They'll never get rid of us now."

"Isn't that the truth." Jason smiled, looking around the backstage area. "Hey has anyone seen…"

"Are you referring to me, Jason?"

Tori smirked and grabbed the drumsticks on the table, throwing them expertly in the direction of the voice. "I was wondering when you'd get out here, Bally."

Ali stuck out her tongue. Her blonde hair was in a side ponytail, which helped balance out the one-sleeved purple shirt she had on. "It is not easy to get these jeans on, I'll have you know."

"Obviously," Valen said, eying the dark jeans tucked into cowboy boots. "Just put on a cowboy hat and you can move to Nebraska."

"Very funny. Toss me a water Tori."

She shook her head. "You know the rules. Let's see how your walking looks."

Ali looked a bit upset, but after a moment took a deep breath and, slowly, walked to the table. Her steps were controlled but confident, and Tori heard the soft sound of plastic and gears shifting. "Your walking looks a lot better. I couldn't tell it's a prosthetic leg if I didn't know."

"Yeah, I just walk slower than a turtle." She chuckled. "It's getting better, though. Jeans and long skirts will officially be my new best friends."

"It sucks when your team loses trying to enslave the free world, doesn't it?" Valen smirked.

Jason shook his head. "I'm still extremely fuzzy on that whole thing. I know you've tried to explain it to me a dozen times, but…"

Tori smiled. "We should go to Magix this weekend. Maybe sights can help you more than words."

"What about the barrier?"

"Oh please," Valen smirked. "I think the Council can make an exception for us."

"…I'll pretend I know what that means."

They all burst out laughing, causing one of the workers to stare at them strangely. Ali waved it off. "Let's save those taunts for another time, eh?"

"Did someone bite off more than they could chew?"

Ali rolled her eyes and Tori and Valen chuckled as a familiar blond boy stepped up from behind her and gave her a hug. "Don't give me that face," Alec insisted with a smirk. "You so missed me. She missed me right?"

"I really didn't, you know."

"Bull. You had to miss me. You'd miss me, right March?"

The back-haired boy smiled. "Or throw a party," he leaned down and kissed Tori. "I'm looking forward to hearing you guys. I bet you'll be great."

She swatted his shoulder playfully. "I could be the worst singer in the world, and you'd still say that."

"Well thank goodness you're not then, or this relationship would get awkward fast."

"Hey lover boy," Valen said, though his tone was humorous, "You need a pass to be back here."

"Aww, but it's so crowded out there. And if I turn my back for five seconds Alec will probably be molesting Alison."

He was rewarded with a drumstick hitting the side of his head.

"Come on. We're obviously your number one fans. Just wait - Alec and I will jump up onto the stage and start singing a Nicki Manage song with you."

"Nicki Minaj."

"Who cares? She raps and has pink hair; good enough for me."

Valen rolled his eyes. "Outside. Now. Both of you. We can go on some rides after the set."

"No Tower or Terror, please." Tori said. "I've had enough of that ride to last a lifetime."

"Oh please," Ali insisted. "The only way to get over it is to go on it again."

"Says the girl who tried to kill me."

"Well I'll go," Alec said. "It looks like wicked fun."

March leaned over to whisper to Alison. "If you let him go on the ride, I'll pay you."

They all laughed. "I'll consider it. If you get out."

"Fine, fine. Good luck guys."

Alec smirked and blew a kiss to Alison. "Break an arm, darling. You don't have a leg to spare, anymore." With that, he sauntered out the door to the main area of the park, but not before holding the door open for Bloom and Baltor.

It'd taken Valen a while to admit it, but he'd never seen his mother happier in her whole life. Something about her was just glowing, as though the weight of the world was off her shoulders; no more secrets, no more hiding magic, no more running from old enemies. It was practically a dream come true.

Plus, Bloom was still keen on catching all the details. "You're blushing." She said to Ali, who quickly turned away and went to retrieve the drumstick she threw at March. "Ah, so you like Alec after all."

"Of course not!"

"I thought he was gay." Baltor muttered, grabbing a water from the crafts table.

Valen and Jason laughed, and Bloom hit him playfully of the shoulder. "That's not appropriate."

"The kid's not here. And neither is Sky to shoot me."

Tori raised an eyebrow. "What did happen with Sky? I haven't seen him since that night on Eraklyon."

Bloom smiled. "When the charges against your father were dropped...well, let's just say he didn't take it too well. Both Diaspro and I tried to talk to him, but he's far too immersed in ruling Eraklyon to even respond to me. Though I believe Diaspro's had more luck with him than I have; she's moving back into the palace to help get through some paperwork of Isis switching to Eraklyon's currency."

"So they're getting back together. And it doesn't bother you?"

She shrugged. "Honestly, it's the first time Diaspro and I spoke civilly to each other since my second year at Alfea. I forgot she's actually a very nice person. Besides, she's been at Sky's side the entire time I was raising you; she obviously cares about him. It's time they finally give that relationship a try."

A smirk crossed Ali's face. "So in other words - you're not jealous because you have a man of your own?"

The kids laughed, and it was Bloom's turn to blush. Baltor chuckled and kissed her cheek. "I can't argue there."

A woman wearing a headset and holding a clipboard appeared from behind a curtain. "You four, the nameless band - you're on in three minutes. We need the drummer and bassist on stage right now, and you two to make the entrance when the drums start for Life Is A Highway."

Bloom blinked as she walked off, taking Jason and Alison with her. They both turned and shrugged at them before disappearing on stage to a round of applause.

"Why on Earth..."

"I think they liked them together on stage. They had a lot of chemistry last time. Plus Jason is the founding member - they'll want a quick interview."

"So have you guys figured out a name for the band yet?" Baltor asked.

"Nope. Maybe we'll just be a nameless band forever. And I can live with that."

"So can I." Valen added, glancing out to the stage. "We should get ready."

"Wait." Tori and Valen glanced back at their mother, who looked way too cheerful to be giving her usual pep speech. "I wanted to tell you guys something before you went out there. All three of you."

Baltor raised an eyebrow. "What do you have up your sleeve, darling?"

"It's nothing bad..."

"That's what you said when you tried to do abstract sculpting in the garage. The car was covered in clay dust and you made us wash it in the street."

She laughed. "Oh, relax. Do you remember when I went to Dr. Calvin a few weeks ago?"

"When you got food poisoning from the sushi at the supermarket?" Tori asked. "Yeah - I told you it was a bad idea - you've gotten sick before eating it. Your sushi craving would've passed."

"Tori, if you'd let me finish, you would know that Calvin ran some tests, and I didn't have food poising."

Valen had an odd look on his face, like he knew where the conversation was leading. Tori wished he'd spit it out - she was clueless as to what her mother was eluding to. "So what did the doctor say?"

"Well…what do you three think about the name Madison?"

Tori's eyes slowly widened. "Mom." She said, her voice serious. "Are you seriously suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

Bloom grinned in response.

The pieces slowly clicked in Baltor's head, and Tori knew he understood when the water bottle fell out of his hands. "Bloom. Are you really…"

Valen just shook his head, a smile on his face. "You can't be serious."

The redhead woman just shrugged. "The doctors are thinking I'm due sometime in July."

"Mom!" Tori threw her arms around her mother's neck and gave her a hug. She was elated. "I can't believe it! No fricking way!"

"Great," Valen smirked, "as if you poisoning Christopher's mind wasn't enough. Now you have a real sibling to do it to."

"How far along are you?"

"About two months."

Valen was going to make a snide comment about how pale Baltor looked, but the clipboard lady appeared again, ushering them onto the main stage.

"We'll talk later." Bloom kissed Tori's cheek, then Valen's. "You guys go have fun."

"You could've told us after! We'll be too preoccupied to focus on our biggest show!"

"Oh please. When you get out there you'll barely remember I exist, never mind that I'm pregnant. Now go."

"Fine, fine. But Mom, take my advice - go get Dad something with alcohol. I think he needs it."

With great reluctance, they both went out onto the stage, blinking as they adjusted to the bright stage lights. Valen glanced back toward the wings, watching as Baltor went over to Bloom and took her hands in his. He asked her something, and she nodded, looking a little nervous. The next moment, he picked her up and spun her around in his arms. They were both laughing.

"Hey guys! I'm Tori and this is Valen. Thank you so much for inviting us to the opening of Cars Land!"

Valen finally took his eyes off his parents (partially because they were now kissing) and focused on the crowd for the first time. He saw media, cameras, families, and a few of the Disney celebrities mingled in, watching him with curious eyes. He shook his head. "This is actually our second time playing at Disney. We were part of the Electronica show last year - did anyone see it?"

A few cheers went up.

"Awesome; well welcome back. Do you think we can show these newbies how to party?"

More cheers.

"Sweet! Now we're going to sing some songs here, and..." he glanced at the wings again. "I'd like to dedicate this first one to my Dad. We've been getting closer over the last few months, and I'd be lying if I said I'd met a braver man. So Dad...I know we've had some ups and downs, but I'm glad you're here now."

Tori bit back a grin, and Alison nodded, obviously approving. He was far too nervous to look back at his parents, but hoped they'd heard him. Once the applause died down, Valen tapped the side of the microphone three times - his good luck ritual. "Now let's party!"

Well...what else is there to say?

If anyone's curious about the cover for this story, yes that's Rose. The picture comes from the cover of my favorite album - Whisper War, from The Cab. Also - if you didn't know, every chapter title, as well as the title of the story itself, comes from a song The Cab wrote. Just a fun fact, if you're bored and need some new music, look no further.

If I took the time to individually thank every single person who reviewed, I'd have enough for a whole other chapter. And I don't want to start naming names for fear I'll leave people out (I'm extremely forgetful, in case you haven't noticed). So thank you for sticking with me, and believing in my insanity.

So you may be asking yourself - ember, what's your next big plan? And to be honest...I don't know. I kind of want to take a step away and start working on my own personal stuff. I'm kind of hoping to turn Damn Rough Night into an original story, so keep your fingers crossed DRN fans! I'll also be going through some major overhaul on my first two stories (Witch and the Winx Club, A More Than Magic Halloween), and the first half of Unexpected. And depending on how school goes, maybe you'll see a new project from me launching in October! And possibly some stuff for fans of Inception and Step Up...

Again, thank you so much for all your kind words and criticism in your reviews. They really mean a lot, and I've come to really look forward to some of them. Leave any final words in a review - I'm responding to all of them in celebration of the last chapter!

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the story.

ember