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Will she still love me?
A question that had been weighing on Luz’s mind the entire walk back, among other questions. Maybe the questions of ‘Are King and Eda okay?’ or ‘What will The Collector do to the isle?’ or even ‘Am I really all that different from Belos?’ should be weighing on her mind more at this moment. But her time in the isles had changed Luz. And because of that, Luz couldn’t keep her mind off of the question-
“Will she still love me?” Luz said as she looked back at herself in the mirror, her foot tapping on the ground rapidly and for the first time in her life looking like herself.
“Who?” Eda asked as she cleaned out the bottle that she poured the medicine she mixed for Luz in.
“Mama,” Luz replied as the high of the moment began to wear off and be replaced with panic, “What if she hates me now? Maybe we should just undo this-”
“Kid,” Eda sighed, cutting Luz off, “Do you want this for yourself?”
“Yes, but-”
“Then you’re not going back,” Eda stated firmly, “Now, I’ve never met her, but everything you’ve told me about this mother of yours tells me she’s not going to care,” Eda paused for a moment as she picked out her next words carefully, “No. I think she will care. I think she’ll be elated that her child is happy with herself.”
“But what if-” Luz was beginning to cry, so many emotions were happening inside her. Happiness. Relief. Fear. Her brain wasn’t sure how to process them all and decided to settle for tears..
“Kid…” Eda quickly approached Luz and wrapped her arms around her tightly, just the way Luz liked to be hugged, “I guarantee you that she’ll still love you. And if the world gets turned upside down and she doesn’t, you can always come running back to me.”
Luz couldn’t do that now. She had no way to go back. No one else to run to. No safety net. The rational part of Luz’s brain was trying its best to reassure her that Mamí wasn’t like that at all and that she would always love Luz no matter what. The other part of her brain (the one that was currently winning) was about to be met with nothing but anger and disappointment. That her mom was going to hate her for how much she’s changed (even if this is who Luz has always been deep down).
Luz and her friends stopped as they stood at the base of her house's porch. A few tiny steps stood between Luz and finally reuniting with her mom after so long. Luz wanted to run. She wanted to go find some ditch or overpass and sleep there for the night. But she couldn’t, not when she was her friend's only hope for finding any shelter. She had to be brave now. If not for herself, then for Amity, Willow, Gus, and Hunter. In an attempt to do just that, Luz tried to move her feet forward towards her home.
She froze.
I can’t do this. I should just send everyone inside and go hide. At least that way-
“So what do you all think?” Luz asked after arriving at the base of the stairs in The Owl House, Willow, Gus, and Amity watching over from the coach.
“You look great,” Willow is the first to speak, a huge smile on her face as she looks over to her friend.
“I’m so happy for you,” Gus had tears in his eyes, emotional at his friend being happy with herself finally.
“Amity?” Luz asked as she looked over to the one person who hadn't responded yet.
“You look,” Amity’s cheeks are visibly red as she taps her hands on her lap, “incredible.” Willow glances over to Amity and gives her a knowing smile before turning back to Luz.
A smile crept onto Luz’s face as her anxiety began to melt away, “You all think so? Like you don’t think I’m hideous now or something?”
“Of course not,” Gus said as he stood up from excitement, “We all love you no matter what.”
“We’re all glad you’re happy now,” Willow said as she stood up as well.
“Aw you guys,” Luz said as her eyes became watery, and before she knew it, Luz was in a giant group hug with her friends, safe in the knowledge that they would always love her.
Luz’s thoughts were interrupted when a soft hand intertwined with hers. Luz looked over to see her girlfriend, Amity, beside her.
“It’s okay Luz,” Amity whispered to her girlfriend, avoiding eye contact. At the moment, neither of them had enough energy for it, “You can do this.”
“I can,” Luz replied as she gave Amity a slight smile and her hand a squeeze before letting go and finally getting the courage to walk up her porch. Once Luz arrived at the door, she rang the doorbell and waited. It was only a few seconds but it was the longest few seconds of Luz’s life. She spent the entire time wishing her mom would open the door and rip the band-aid off already.
And then it opened and looking down at Luz was her mother, heavy bags lining the undersides of her eyes. This was it. No turning back now.
“Hey mom, I’m back,” Luz stuttered out, ready to jump into a bush at any moment. She watched as her mom’s expression changed from confusion, to shock, to-
Anger. That’s what’s next. I never should have-
Understanding, to love, and finally to concern. She began to approach her daughter and Luz couldn’t help herself from dashing forward as well. In a split-second, Luz had wrapped her arms around her mom, and she had done the same to her. Tears began to run down Luz’s face. A mix of happy and sad tears. Tears she had needed to let out since King had sent her and her friends flying through the portal. Tears that would not be the last she would shed that night.
All was quiet for a few seconds as Luz clung to her mother, taking in all the comfort she was being provided in that moment, all before her mom broke the silence.
“Welcome home, Mija.”