Julie heard the door and opened her eyes. She stared into space, vaguely recognising her room.
"Julie?" Annika's voice seems absurdly loud.
Julie shifted slightly and looked up at her. Annika's concerned expression changed to a smile.
"Hey," she said softly. "You're awake."
"I guess so," Julie replied, frowning a little. "Did something happen?"
"Shannon removed the beauty spell."
"Oh," Julie's frown deepened. "I think I remember that. Where is she?"
"She had to go back home. Asked me to keep an eye out for you."
"Oh. How long have I been sleeping for?"
"Almost a week."
"A week?" Julie repeated in surprise.
"Uh huh. How are you feeling? You're looking better."
"How can I look better when I've had a beauty spell removed?"
"Well, y'know, you look more like you," Annika replied. "The beauty spell made your features flawless and stuff but it lacked character."
"And I was skinny."
"Big deal."
"It is to me."
"Good food and exersice."
"I was doing all of that!"
Annika raised her eyebrows.
"Well, I was. Sometimes. Hey three twin pregnancies has mishapened my body."
"Uh huh, yeah so quit holding to that excuse, and the other one about having a desk job, and the other one about the kids using up all your time. You're back in the suburbs and you've hired two nannies -"
"I have?"
"Oh, wait... I forgot. You've been so out of it the last few months Zac had to hired them on your behalf," Annika said cynically. "It's coming out of your paycheque though. Point is, you can go jogging in the mornings. Or ride a bike. Or whatever. Stop eating juck - and we both know how fond you are with you pizza and Chinese and other take away - and here's an idea: deal with the fact that you're not going to get your girlish figure back. You're a woman, Julie, what do you need a girlish figure for now anyway?"
"You just don't get it."
"I'm a mother too, in case you've forgotten."
"You're skinny!"
"I work out, eat healthy, it's taken me ever since I had Brett to get to this shape and I'm still two sizes larger than I used to be."
"I don't believe it."
"Believe what you want, Julie. Believe what you want."